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SCENES AND EVENTS 



"THE MOUTH OF EEL" 

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THE HISTORIC WABASH 



WITH PAPERS READ BEFORE THE CASS COUNTY, 

INDIANA, HISTORICAL SOCIETY AT 

ITS SPRING MEETINGS, 1907 



W. SWIFT WRIGHT 



1907 



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EXPLANATORY 



In writing these few sketches of earlier days, I 
have not been haunted by a desire to be known as 
an author. Nor have I hoped to amass a fortune, 
as the sale must necessarily be very limited. 

During a brief residence in New England my 
attention was called to the great interest displayed 
there in matters pertaining to local history, and this 
caused me to realize that much valuable local his- 
tory is lost through negligence, not only in New 
England, but throughout the United States. In our 
own State, Indiana, the pioneers are rapidly passing 
away. In ten years few will remain to tell the tales 
of the clearings in the wilderness and of the trails 
of the red men. During a few days' sojourn at Lo- 
gansport, my home and native town, I have talked 
with early settlers and endeavored to add a little 
to the historical lore of the community. These 
sketches are not and do not purport to be complete 
history. They were written as a pastime, and are 
published simply in the hope that they may prove 
entertaining to others. While they are not exhaus- 
tive, care has been taken to make them accurate. 
The occasional bits of philosophy are not profound, 
and are entirely gratuitous, so that this is not a 
serious drawback. To the Cass County Historical 
Society this work is dedicated, in the hope that it 
may incite others to greater and better effort. 

W. S. W. 
Logansport, Ind., July 20th, 1907. 



CONTENTS 



Page 

Introduction 6 

The Study of History 9 

"Lo" The Poor Indian 14 

Early Wabash Navigation 19 

Three Generals in Indian Wars 23 

Ye Olde Inns. 25 

Early Methods of Transportation 31 

Logansport's First Boom 36 

Ye Olde Logansport 41 

Ye Early Schools 45 

Some Suggestions Historical 51 

Early Banking in Logansport 55 

Ye Olde Markets 61 

Some Thoughts of History 64 

Logansport in Retrospect 69 

The City of Bridges-An Old Handbill 72 

A Letter of the Early Days 77 

Early Indian Battles 80 

An Early Painter 86 

A Trip on the Canal 91 

A Story of Progress— Railroads 96 

Two Rare Books 101 

The " Underground Railway" 103 

Military History 107 

Local Men of National or State Fame 116 

Cass County Company First in Civil War 120 

Boyhood Sports in Former Days 124 

Suggestion of Historical Society Home 128 

In Lighter Vein— About Brass Bands 131 

And Base Ball Also 136 

Historical Society— Organization 141 

Constitution 145 

First Public Meeting 148 

Paper of Mrs. J. W. Ballard 149 

Paper of E. S. Rice 153 

Paper of Joseph Patterson 170 

Second Public Meeting 174 

Paper of Mrs M. Y. Buchanan 176 

Paper of W. T. Giffe 180 

Volunteer Fire Dep't History-H. W. Bringhurst 184 

Newspaper History 195 

Organized Labor History 203 

Sketch of General Cass 207 

Authors, Artists and Actors 213 



INTRODUCTION 



The course of empire has ever swept westward. 
The little colony of Pilgrim Fathers on the shores 
of the Atlantic was destined, to be the foundation 
stone of a great republic. As the pioneers pushed 
westward new hardships were encountered which 
only served to develop character and make a vig- 
orous race. The sound of the axe in the unbroken 
forest was followed by the cabin in the clearing, 
then came the village, town, and city, and brain 
succeeded brawn as a civilizing force. The red man 
sullenly withdrew toward the setting sun until at 
length his sun was set forever and he became al- 
most a tradition. 

The destinies of races and the philosophy of 
history are rather the themes of essayists, and 
hardly come within the province of the local histor- 
ian whose sole mission is to chronicle local events. 
However an occasional lapse into revery is permis- 
sable and if in the main the chronicles of the pio- 
neers are correct a little philosophy will be par- 
doned. 

The valley of the Wabash proved an attractive 
spot to the pioneers, just as it had to the Potta- 
wattomie and Miami Indians. They were seeking 
fertile lands as enthusiastically as the "Forty Nin- 
ers" sought gold in the far west a decade or two 
later. They opened trading posts and gave the In- 
dians articles of merchandise they had gotten along 
without for generations in return for furs and good 



6 Pastime Sketches 

the Indians needed. And it thus came to pass that 
in time the superior race occupied the lands in the 
Wabash valley and the Indians were fighting- their 
last battles from the rocky crevices of barren moun- 
tains and the alkali plains of the west. 

There was one particularly charming spot in 
the Wabash Valley designated on the charts. of the 
wilderness as the "Mouth of Eel." Two rivers 
flowed through forests of magnificent grandeur, 
met and journeyed onward hand in hand to mingle 
with the waters of the Ohio and later add to the 
majesty of the Mississippi. The point of juncture 
of the Wabash and Eel seemed a fitting site for a 
great city. There were high hills to the north and 
south and beautiful hills between the two rivers. 
Many islands then dotted the rivers, the climate 
was healthful and wild game abounded. And so at 
the Mouth of Eel log cabins sprung up, trading 
posts were established and a home-made sign an- 
nounced a tavern with "entertainment for man and 
beast." 

Logansport for a time was a nameless town, 
then came a christening and sturdy frontiersmen 
contended for the honor of naming the new born. 
There was a test of skill with rifle to decide upon 
whom should fall the honor and thus Logansport 
came to have a place on the map — "Logan was the 
friend of the white man," so the old school readers 
said, and after Logan, the Indian chief, the town 
was named. The new city was to be the head of 
navigation on the Wabash. As a port it never 
reached the greatness planned for it by its found- 
ers, though in the palmy days of the canal it be- 
came a substantial shipping point. In this connec- 
tion however accuracy compels the statement that 



Pastime Sketches 7 

the Chief Logan of the school reader was not the 
Chief Logan of the Wabash valley but a Pawnnee 
chief of the eastern forests. 

Whatever else of growth, progress, change, or 
decay marked the town as it grew into a city, and 
later into a city of no mean proportions is best told 
in a narrative of events. The "City of Bridges" 
became the "City of Natural Advantages," and the 
"Capital of Northern Indiana" at the hands of apt 
newspaper editors. Perhaps it may acquire a new 
title later on. But that again is not history. 



PASTIME SKETCHES 



CHAPTER I. 

THE STUDY OF HISTORY. 

Every community reaches a historical stage 
sooner or later, a period when less time is given to 
the present and more to the past. It is an era of 
contemplation and study, rather than of active in- 
terest in current events only, of calmer philosophy 
and deeper thought, a more intellectual age, per- 
haps. It is then the past is studied for the lessons 
it contains. The individual reaches a similar stage 
in his journey through life, when he finds a growing 
interest in the panorama of the past. And so we read 
history for the wisdom it gives us, for the romance 
we find in it and for the philosophy it contains. It 
was Patrick Henry who said, "There is but one 
lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the 
lamp of experience." History has at all times been 
the favorite study of statesmen. We know that 
history repeats, that individuals under similar con- 
ditions will act in a similar manner. From this, 
conclusions are drawn and wise legislation enacted. 

There is not much in local history that has a 
bearing on national character. Rather in this curi- 
osity is aroused, the imagination is excited and a 
greater or less degree of awe is inspired. Man is 
fond of relics, a chip of wood from Old Ironsides 
commands as much respect as the revolutionary 
sword of an ancestor. Nor is the value of this trait 



10 Pastime Sketches 

to be underestimated in the formation of character. 
Truly, man is a historical animal, and the higher the 
plane of civilization the greater the interest in his- 
torical data. 

The restless characteristic that causes man to 
make history we do not understand. We do not 
know why nations spring up, rule the earth for a 
time and decline, why there should be a rise and 
a fall in a nation like the Roman Empire. We sim- 
ply know that nations, like individuals, reach a 
zenith, then decay; that a new race, or a new na- 
tion, becomes dominant for a time, and gives place 
to a rising empire. 

An address on the "Uses of History" was deliv- 
ered as long ago as 1831 by Andrew Wylie, D. D., 
president of Indiana College. It is an almost for- 
gotten document, but so instructive that extracts 
from it will be interesting. "History," he says, 
"gives us an insight into our own nature. In the 
past ages of the world man has been placed in al- 
most every possible condition that the nature of 
earthly things can furnish. The power of all sorts 
of institutions of all sorts of systems, and forms of 
government — and of every conceivable religious 
and philosophical creed, and of every possible com- 
bination of circumstances has been, at one time or 
another, tried upon him — and truly he has occa- 
sionally exhibited strange phases of character, and 
been seen ranging the scale of qualities from the 
point where he affronts the brute up to that which 
shows him to be on the confines of angelic nature. 
Whatever be his tendencies and capacities, his 
power and frailties, we shall find them in history; 
for they have all been developed." 

In another paragraph he says: 



Pastime Sketches 11 

"There is no road to earthly good, real or imagi- 
nary, in which some of mankind have not pursued 
it, with all the ardor and energy of which their na- 
ture was susceptible. They have heaped up wealth, 
courted honor, grasped at power, sought for pleas- 
ure in every way and by all expedients. The scep- 
ter, the miter, the sword, art, nature, solitude, so- 
ciety, everything has been tried, and man has come 
away from them all, dissatisfied. Those things 
which men, usually, most intensely covet, have been 
found by experience to be supremely worthless. 
One seeks to be prime minister of a great nation, 
obtains the office, and stabs himself. Another, 
weary of royalty, renounces it, and then goes to 
war to recover what he had voluntarily resigned. 
A third aims at universal empire, spends years of 
relentlessness and sheds oceans of blood to obtain 
it, and dies, chained to a rock. "What do you in- 
tend," said Cyneas to Pyrrhus, preparing for an 
expedition into Italy, "when you have subdued the 
Romans?" "Pass into Sicily." "What then?" 
"Conquer the Carthagenians." "And what next?" 
"Return home and enjoy ourselves." "And why," 
said the sensible minister, "can we not do the last 
even now?" 

In 1848 John B. Dillon, formerly of Logansport, 
delivered an address on "The National Decline of 
the Indians." In that discourse he treats of the 
Indian as a relic of barbarism and rejoices in the 
dawning of civilization. In this, of course, he is 
right, but he does not discuss the causes of the rise 
and fall of that nation. "If we look backward," he 
says, "through a period of more than one hundred 
and fifty years, to the dawning of civilization in the 
west, at every point where a ray of light illuminates 



12 Pastime Sketches 

the condition of the Miami Indians, we shall behold 
mournful evidences of the downward progress of a 
great aboriginal nation, and we shall learn, too, 
something of the slow and sad means by which a 
vast and beautiful region has been reclaimed from 
a state of barbarism." 

In the early part of the eighteenth century, along 
in 1700, the Miami Indians occupied all of Indiana 
and a great part of Ohio. They had numerous vil- 
lages and were a great and powerful nation. How 
long before this they had been supreme in this ter- 
ritory is not known, probably for many hundred 
years. As early as 1670 missionaries visited this 
tribe about the southern shores of Lake Michigan. 
Later the Pottawatomies swept down from the 
north and crowded the Miamis south beyond the 
Wabash river, the dividing line when the whites 
drove both tribes west of the Mississippi. Thus we 
have the facts of history, the rise and fall of this 
great nation, and a study of the causes can not be 
but instructive. 

The pioneers did all in their power to civilize 
the Indians. They established schools and churches 
for them, taught them agriculture, sent many of the 
younger men to colleges, where they were educated 
in the knowledge of the white people, but with few 
exceptions they returned to their native haunts and 
to the customs of their native tribes. It was a new 
epoch, a new race, and the Indian, as a remnant of 
the old, adopted only what was vicious in the cus- 
toms of the white man and stubbornly refused to 
learn that which was good. It is a lamentable fact, 
but vice as well as virtue was taught the Indians, 
and history records that the vice they were taught 
rapidly hastened their downfall. 



Pastime Sketches 13 

Whatever the cause, a once noble race, which 
roamed the forests with unerring step, which en- 
gaged in brave and brilliant warfare, which attacked 
the wild beasts of the jungle with prowess and 
courage, became weak, decadent and finally disap- 
peared while a new race, skilled in art and agricul- 
ture, cleared away the forests, cultivated the fields, 
built cities of magnificent architecture, established 
schools and temples and took up the burden of a 
more advanced civilization. It was not a progress 
by a mingling of races nor by assimilation of the 
old. It was an abrupt transformation, the death of 
the old race, the birth of the new. 

By an immutable law of nature we do not un- 
derstand races arise, exist and disappear. Call it 
progress if you will, or only change, for there are 
lost arts and forgotten civilizations. The fact re- 
mains that we are today occupying the homes of a 
race of human beings practically extinct. When we 
go to Rome we do as the Romans do, but we did 
not at any time adopt the Indian life and customs. 
It was an epoch in history, a change of civilizations, 
and we are the pioneers of the new in this part of 
the world. 

It seems almost beyond belief that there are 
men now living who saw this country as an almost 
impassable wilderness, Logansport as a village in 
the forest and Indians camping at the "Point," and 
lounging about the village tavern or the village 
store. Many men not old in years remember tales 
of the early days told by their mothers, born farther 
east, of Indians asking for food or water at their 
doors when first they came as brides to this village 
in the wilderness. Here this has become history, 
a little further west it is still reality, though the end 
of the Indian race is not far distant. 



14 Pastime Sketches 



CHAPTER II. 

"LO," THE POOR INDIAN. 

While Logansport was still young, "Lo, the 
poor Indian" was invited to go west. The invita- 
tion is a rare piece of literature in its wording. It 
is dignified and charitable. The pale face did not 
want the timbered lands of the red man, he 
loved the Indian and wanted to make him happy, 
and so found for him in the west a broader forest 
filled with bigger game. The invitation is interest- 
ing in that it shows the dwindled strength of the 
Miamis and Pottawatomies at the time to have been 
less than two thousand. It is also interesting to 
note that notwithstanding the benevolent tone of 
the invitation, the Indians declined to accept it, and 
in the transfer which was made the chiefs were 
taken in chains and the tribes escorted by an armed 
force. The joint resolution passed by the Indiana 
legislature in 1830 reads as follows : 

"The memorial of the general assembly of the 
State of Indiana respectfully represents that two 
tribes of Indians, about two thousand in number, 
reside within the limits of this State, the means 
of subsisting by the chase being diminished, pos- 
sessing neither the knowledge nor inclination to 
change their native customs, the total extinction 
of these people seems to be as rapid and inevitable 
as are the approaches and influence of civiliza- 
tion and improvement upon the forests which they 
inhabit. To endeavor to avert from the Pottawa- 



Pastime Sketches 15 

tomies and Miamis the fate which has attended 
many of their kindred tribes is a duty sanctioned 
by a regard for the national reputation, and by 
every humane and philanthropic consideration. As 
the best means of accomplishing so desirable a re- 
sult, and of securing the happiness of the aboriginal 
race, your memoralists respectfully and earnestly 
urge the adoption of measures to induce the Indians 
within this State to abandon, from choice, those 
narrow forests, where they can now acquire but a 
precarious and scanty subsistence, and to emigrate 
to the country west of the Mississippi which is so 
much better adapted to their wants and their habits. 
The benevolent and patriotic views and recommen- 
dations of the President of the United States, on 
this subject, of which they tender their cordial ap- 
probation, render it unnecessary for your memoral- 
ists to offer arguments in detail. As a preliminary 
measure to the removal of the Indians, your me- 
moralists also request that an appropriation may 
be made in order to extinguish their title to such 
lands as border on the line of the Wabash and Erie 
canal, their possession of which greatly impedes the 
progress of that important work and arrests the 
settlement and improvement of the most interesting 
and desirable part of Indiana ; Resolved, by the gen- 
eral assembly of the State of Indiana, that the gov- 
ernor be requested to forward a copy of the fore- 
going memorial to each of our senators and repre- 
sentatives in congress, to be laid before that body at 
its present session." 

Congress acted on the resolution and passed a 
law appointing a commission of three to carry it 
out. The history of Indiana and Cass county by 
Thomas B. Helm contains accurate and interesting 



16 Pastime Sketches 

detail of these early days before Indiana was a 
State, and, in fact, gives much interesting Indian 
data. With that wealth of information at hand 
further detail is not necessary, and it would be mere 
repetition to cover that period of the country's his^ 
tory. Some of the Indians went earlier, but the 
last sad farewells to the haunts of their ancestors 
was said in the summer of 1838, when Colonel Abel 
C. Pepper, the Indian agent, and General John Tip- 
ton escorted, by order of congress, a body of one 
thousand Pottawatomies to the new reservation 
west of the Mississippi. Several years later the 
Miamis were removed to their new home. Perhaps 
no more graphic description of the farewell can be 
written than that given in the Helm history. It says : 
"It was a sad and mournful spectacle to witness 
these children of the forest slowly retiring from the 
home of their childhood, that contained not only the 
graves of their revered ancestors, but also many 
endearing scenes to which their memories would 
ever recur as sunny spots along their pathway 
through the wilderness. They felt that they were 
bidding farewell to the hills, valleys and streams of 
their infancy ; the more exciting hunting grounds 
of their advanced youth, as well as the stern and 
bloody battlefields where they had contended in 
riper manhood, on which they had received wounds, 
and where many of their friends and loved relatives 
had fallen, covered with gore and with glory. All 
these they were leaving behind them, to be dese- 
crated by the plowshare of the white man. As they 
cast mournful glances back toward these loved 
scenes that were rapidly fading in the distance, 
tears fell from the cheek of the downcast warrior, 
old men trembled, matrons wept, the swarthy maid- 



Pastime Sketches 17 

en's cheek turned pale, and sighs and' half-sup- 
pressed sobs escaped from the motley groups as 
they passed along, some on foot, some on horseback, 
and others in wagons — sad as a funeral procession. 
Several of the aged warriors were seen to cast 
glances toward the sky, as if they were imploring 
aid from the spirits of their departed heroes, who 
were looking down upon them from the clouds, or 
from the Great Spirit, who would ultimately redress 
the wrongs of the red man, whose broken bow had 
fallen from his hand, and whose sad heart was 
bleeding within him. Ever and anon one of the 
party would start out into the brush and break 
back to their old encampments on Eel river and on 
the Tippecanoe, declaring that he would rather die 
than be banished from their country. Thus scores 
of discontented emigrants returned from different 
points on their journey ; and it was several years 
before they could be induced to join their country- 
men west of the Mississippi." 

When we recall that the original thirteen States, 
organizing the Union in 1776, comprised only a 
small portion of the eastern part of the United 
States, and that the part of the country east of the 
Mississippi river as far east as these States was 
"territory" of which we were part, being from 1776 
to 1816 part of the Northwest Territory, we can 
realize the rapid growth made almost within the 
memory of men now. living. It was only in 1803 
that the "Louisiana Purchase" from France gave 
us all the territory west of the Mississippi river to 
the Rocky mountains, and it was not until 1845 
that Texas, part of Mexico, was annexed. We ac- 
quired part of the territory west of the Rocky 
mountains by treaty with Mexico in 1848, all that 



18 Pastime Sketches 

part of the country south of Idaho and Wyoming. 
Oregon and the territory to the north of this bound- 
ary line became ours by discovery a hundred years 
ago. Washington Irving's description of the found- 
ing of Astoria in this territory will be found very 
interesting. The Indians still occupy reservations 
in the western territory, but the progress of the 
pale face has been ruthless, and the Indian race 
will soon disappear. 

John Elliot came over in the Lyon, the next 
boat after the Mayflower. He translated the Bible 
into the Indian language and preached to the In- 
dians at the colony of Massachusetts. The old El- 
liot church is still standing in Roxbury, Massachu- 
setts. We do not know what the Indians thought 
of us who deprived them of their "happy hunting 
grounds" here and sent them to the "happy hunt- 
ing grounds" of the hereafter. However that may 
be, the writer of history does not philosophize, but 
narrates. The race occupying the boundless plains 
and almost impenetrable forests has disappeared, 
and a new civilization has sprung up, a nobler peo- 
ple with higher ideals and grander ambitions. 



Pastime Sketches 19 



CHAPTER III. 

EARLY WABASH NAVIGATION. 

For years it has been an open question as to 
whether or not steamboats ever plied on the Wa- 
bash as far up as this city. The question is settled 
by Sanford C. Cox in his book, "Recollections of the 
Early Settlement of the Wabash Valley." 

It will be seen that steamboats did ply as far as 
this point — one rather was dragged as far as the 
point below the Third street bridge and the other 
plied after many efforts past this city and as far as 
Peru. In narrating these efforts the book says : 

"During the June freshet in 1834, a little steamer 
called the Republican advertised that she would 
leave the wharf at Lafayette for Logansport on a 
given day. A few of us concluded to take a pleas- 
ure trip on the Republican, and be on the pioneer 
steamboat that would land at Logansport, a thriv- 
ing town situated at the confluence of the Wabash 
and Eel rivers, in the heart of a beautiful and fertile 
region of country. At the hour appointed the Re- 
publican left the landing at Lafayette, under a good 
head of steam, and "walked the waters like a thing 
of life." We soon passed Cedar Bluffs, Davis' Fer- 
ry, the mouths of Wild Cat and Tippecanoe, and 
began to anticipate a quick and successful trip. But 
soon after passing the Delphi landing the boat stuck 
fast upon a sandbar, which detained us for several 
hours. Another and another obstruction was met 
with every few miles, which we overcame with 



20 Pastime Sketches 

much difficulty, labor and delay. At each success- 
ive sandbar the most of the boat's crew and many 
of the passengers got out into the water and lifted 
the boat, or pulled upon a large rope that was ex- 
tended to the shore — an important auxiliary to 
steam power to propel the vessel over these ob- 
structions. Night overtook us stuck fast upon the 
bottom of the river below Tipton's port. 

"Several days and nights were spent in fruitless 
attempts to get over the rapids. All hands, except 
the women and a few others, were frequently in the 
water up to their chins, for hours together, endeav- 
oring to lift the boat off the bar. The water fell 
rapidly and prevented the boat from either ascend- 
ing farther up or returning down the river. While 
at this place we were visited by several companies 
of well dressed and fine looking Miami and Potta- 
watomie Indians, of all ages and sexes, who would 
sit for hours on the bank, admiring the boat, which 
they greatly desired to see in motion, under a full 
head of steam. After four days and nights' ineffect- 
ual efforts to proceed, the boat was abandoned by 
all except the captain and part of his crew. 

"Two or three weeks afterwards over a dozen 
yokes of large oxen were brought down from Lo- 
gansport, and the Republican was hauled over rip- 
ples and sandbars to Logansport, and the citizens 
of that place and the surrounding country had the 
luxury of a steamboat arrival on the Fourth of July, 
and Captain Towne had the (doubtful) honor of 
being the commander of the first steamboat that 
visited Logansport ; for it cost him his boat, which 
bilged soon after its arrival in port, and its hull, 
years afterward, might be seen lying sunk to the 



Pastime Sketches 21 

bottom of the Wabash near its confluence with the 
waters of Eel river." 

"During the next summer there was another June 
freshet in the Wabash, and the steamboat Science 
was advertised for a trip to Logansport, Peru and 
Chief Godfrey's Village above the mouth of the 
Mississinewa. The unusually high stage of the 
river gave fine promise of a successful trip up the 
Wabash. At Delphi and other points along the 
river, considerable accessions were made to our 
company. The boat reached Logansport without 
any difficulty. There was a large increase of pas- 
sengers from this point. The Tiptons, Laselles, 
Durets, Polks, Johnsons and many others of the old 
settlers of the town turned out, many of them with 
their entire families, for a steamboat excursion, to 
visit the neighboring town of Peru and their abo- 
riginal neighbors and valuable customers at God- 
frey's Village. 

"The boat left the wharf at Logansport under a 
full head of steam, which was considered necessary 
to carry her over the rapids a short distance above 
town. Our gallant boat failed to make the ripple, 
and after puffing and snorting for about two hours 
without gaining over forty feet, she dropped back 
to the foot of the rapids, where several hundred of 
the passengers went ashore to walk around the 
rapids. Rosin, tar and sides of bacon were freely 
cast into the fire, to create more steam, and another 
longer and stronger effort was made to get over the 
rapids, but in vain. 

"After narrowly escaping the destruction of his 
boat, the captain deemed it prudent to drop down to 
Logansport again and lighten the boat. Over two 
hundred barrels of flour and salt were taken off the 



22 Pastime Sketches 

boat, which laid that night at the landing at Lo- 
gansport and one hundred or more of the citizens of 
Lafayette and Delphi shared the hospitality of their 
neighbors at Logansport. After all the hotels and 
boarding houses were filled to overflowing, private 
houses were thrown open to accommodate those 
who could not get lodging on the boat, and next 
morning scores were willing to bear witness to the 
kindness and hospitality of the citizens of Logans- 
port. 

''After breakfast the most of the passengers 
walked around the rapids, and the steamer passed 
over them the first effort. All joined in congratu- 
lations for the success of the morning, which was 
considered a favorable omen for a successful and 
pleasant trip. We soon reached Miamisburg and 
Peru, two little rival towns on the west bank of the 
Wabash." 



Pastime Sketches 23 



CHAPTER IV. 

THREE GENERALS IN INDIAN WARS. 

In addition to General Tipton, a hero of Tippe- 
canoe, and General Crooks, who commanded Penn- 
sylvania troops at Ft. Meigs, in Ohio, Logansport 
had another general conspicuous in Indian warfare. 

General Walter Wilson was born in Kentucky 
in 1782. His father soon afterwards settled at "old 
Post Vincennes," in Knox county. In 1811, when 
29 years of age he was sent by Gov. Harrison on a 
mission to Prophets Town on the Wabash. On his 
return from this, a successful trip, he was sent to 
meet Tecumseh to express Governor Harrison's dis- 
approval of the warrior violating his agreement. 
He met Tecumseh about twenty miles above Post 
Vincennes. where he had no right to be. An expedi- 
tion of which he was in command was soon after- 
wards fitted out to punish the Indians for numerous 
acts of hostility. They reached Prophets Town No- 
vember 6th and took part in the battle of Tippecanoe 
the day following. Wilson was promoted to the posi- 
tion of colonel for bravery in that fight, and in the 
attack on the Mississinewa towns, July, 1813, com- 
manded the left flank. He continued in the suc- 
ceeding campaigns against the Indians, acquitting 
himself with credit and earning the title of general. 
He was a member of the legislative council of the 
territory in 1810, and continued a member through 
several sessions. He was also a member of the first 
legislature after the organization of the State in 



24 Pastime Sketches 

1816. In 1828 he moved to Cass county and pur- 
chased the farm on the north bank of Eel river 
opposite Riverside Park. In 1831 and 1832 he rep- 
resented Cass and Carroll counties in the legisla- 
ture. He died in 1838 and was buried with Masonic 
honors. His grave on his old farm, the Spry Sunny- 
side farm, is marked by a monument and a small 
inclosure. His son, William Wilson, was postmas- 
ter just after the war. and grandsons, W. W. Wil- 
son and Byron Wilson, were mail carriers for sev- 
eral years. Mrs. Anna Chandler of this city is a 
granddaughter and Walter W. Chandler a great- 
grandson. 



Pastime Sketches 25 



CHAPTER V. 

YE OLDE INNS. 

The early taverns of our town could many a 
tale unfold were some one living to tell them. 
There were gathered the pioneer and patriot who 
knew no fear, and often with them the redskin, 
gradually being driven out by the pale face. The 
earliest Cass county hostelry had no name. The 
rude home-made sign bore the words, "Entertain- 
ment by A. Chamberlain." The hotel was a small 
log cabin, located on the south bank of the Wabash, 
opposite the mouth of Eel river. 

Mr. Chamberlain was the first settler, and, 
strange to say, at once started a hotel. He came 
in August. 1826, and began to look around for a 
business opening. The hotel business caught his 
fancy. He knew that all great enterprises had small 
beginnings and as he was sure of at least one guest 
all the year round, himself, he put his money into 
this enterprise. He no doubt was a little lonesome 
at first, playing the part of proprietor, clerk, bellboy, 
cook, chambermaid and guest, but he became used 
to it. However, Indian agents, traders and pio- 
neers were soon on hand as guests, and the hotel 
prospered. No doubt many blood-curdling tales 
were told about its fireside. The schedule of rates 
fixed later by the commissioners read as follows: 
"For keeping a horse one night, hay and grain, 50 
cents: for victualling, per meal, 2? cents; lodging, 
1 J ' _. cents: brandy, per half pint, 50 cents: wines. 



26 Pastime Sketches 

per half pint, 50 cents; rum, per half pint, 50 cents; 
Holland gin, 50 cents; whisky, per half pint, 25 
cents." 

The schedule is rather long on liquors and short 
on foods. Quail on toast and saddlerocks on the 
half shell were not available, probably. The mo- 
tive of the commissioners in making the rates is not 
disclosed. It will probably never be known whether 
Mr. Chamberlain was overcharging, and had to be 
held down, or whether the guests were remonstrat- 
ing, and had to be held up. Neither does history 
say whether or not Mr. Chamberlain wore a dia- 
mond scarf-pin and said "Front" in a stern tone of 
voice. 

The second hotel, and the first one in Logans- 
port proper, was built by Israel Johnson, who came 
to Logansport in 1826. It was also the first two- 
story building in the county. It is still standing, 
on Market street, between second and Third, oppo- 
site the Catholic church. Mr. Johnson was born in 
Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1803, and 
came to Richmond, Ind., at the age of 17. Four 
years later he moved to Logansport. He was a 
member of the town council and later a prominent 
business man. He died in 1866. 

The hotel had no particular name, but was the 
best hotel in town at that time. An old ford crossed 
the Wabash river at Second street, and, as there 
were no bridges, expected guests frequently slept 
in the woods on the south bank of the river when 
the water was high. Indians often camped at "The 
Point" just below. There was a wide porch at the 
back of the house, the roof extending over it, and 
parties of Indians once in a while asked permission 
to sleep on the porch. They were allowed to do 



Pastime Sketches 27 

this, as they were friendly and harmless. Mr. John- 
son soon engaged in commercial business, and made 
quite a fortune for those days. At the time of his 
death he was one of Logansport's leading business 
men. 

After the building of the Michigan road and the 
Wabash and Erie canal in the middle "thirties" 
many taverns sprung up in town and county. The 
Ashland House, corner Third and Market streets, 
was probably the next hotel in Logansport. It was 
a frame and was later the Cullen House. It stood 
where the Catholic school now stands. In it was the 
office of the stage coaches, which ran north to South 
Bend, south to Indianapolis and east and west. Jo- 
seph Cullen was the proprietor, and about 1852 was 
appointed an Indian agent and went west. Job 
Eldridge moved the house across the street for a 
residence, where it is still standing, when Cullen 
built the brick Cullen House on the site. It was 
continued as a hotel for several years. The Leamy 
House, afterwards the Layton House and Panhan- 
dle Station, about the site of the Western Union 
Telegraph office, was built prior to 1838, and was a 
hotel for many years. The old Barnett was built 
by Colonel Vigus prior to 1838. It was kept by Mr. 
Humbert and was called the Washington Hotel. 
Colonel Vigus had to move in from his farm and 
run it. Alexander Barnett, "Alec," as he was called, 
was a famous host of the Wabash Valley. He 
bought and enlarged the hotel in the early fifties 
and made it an attractive place for visitors for many 
years. The block alongside down to Second street 
was filled with frame business houses and was 
known as "Commercial Row." He afterwards built 
and managed the present Barnett Hotel. Of the 



28 Pastime Sketches 

present hotels the Gehring House, now the Johnston 
Hotel, the New Barnett and the Murdock come 
within the memory of those now living. Both the 
New Barnett and the Murdock have had disastrous 
fires, but with no loss of life. 

One of the older hotels was the Bliss House on 
the Southside, but it was built comparatively re- 
cently. The Panhandle Station was near it, the 
road not crossing the river then, and it was on the 
new line of the Michigan road, which originally 
crossed the Wabash river at a ford below Uhl's 
mill and came up the north bank of Eel river to a 
point above Sixth street, where it continued north. 
The Klopp House was a well known hotel facing 
Eel river just above Sixth street, on the Northside, 
and the building, a frame, is still standing. It 
gained some notoriety in the early days by reason 
of a murder on the Michigan road near there, the 
murderer hanging himself in jail. 

The Keystone House, northwest corner Sixth 
and Broadway, and the Larimore House, just be- 
low it, were considered hotels in the earlier days. 

Along the Michigan road, north of town, taverns 
sprung up to meet the needs of travelers along that 
highway. There was a ''Four Mile House," on the 
McDowell farm, owned by Clay Metzger ; a "Seven 
Mile House," built before 1837, and managed by 
James Troutman until 1853; a "Nine Mile House" 
on the farm owned by Joseph Penrose and which 
was kept by a man named Demoss, and later, from 
1856 to I860, by Wilson Booth. The "Twelve Mile 
House" was just over the Fulton county line on a 
farm afterwards owned by Williamson Wright, and 
there was one at the town of Fulton, and others t»c- 



Pastime Sketches 29 

tween that and Rochester. Those were the thrill- 
ing days of the stage coach. 

The canal was also a great thoroughfare and 
every town had its tavern. There was a hotel at 
Lewisburg, built in the forties by David Miller and 
afterwards managed by the father of Samuel Pan- 
ned. It was used as a boarding house later by a 
Mr. Smott, killed in a runaway. His widow con- 
ducted it for several years, and for a time at least 
part of it was used as a grocery. The hotel at 
Georgetown, which was to be the head of naviga- 
tion on the Wabash, was a log building, and stood 
where the John T. Wiley store stands now. Dr. 
]. B. Shultz, whd was born at Lockport, three miles 
below, remembers as one of his boyhood experi- 
ences a guest there hastily coming to their house 
on horseback at 3 o'clock in the morning with the 
story that he had overheard some men in the next 
room planning to kill and rob him, and had made 
his escape. Mr. Strowbridge, a Philadelphia mil- 
lionaire, of the dry goods firm of Strowbridge & 
Clothiers, corner Eight and Market streets, Phila- 
delphia, began his career there, clerking in the coun- 
try store, and afterwards for Pollard & Wilson in 
Logansport. 

Resides these there was a hotel built of brick 
in 1843 at the corner of Fourth and Market - streets, 
where the dry goods store now stands. It was 
painted yellow and was quite pretentious in its day. 
It was kept by Mr. Guiger, and J. C. Merriam first 
found there a home when he came to Logansport 
to make his fortune. The old Nash House, corner 
Sixth and High streets, was for many years a popu- 
lar stopping place, and the Larimore House, on 
North street, between Fifth and Sixth, was fre- 



30 Pastime Sketches 

quented by farmers. Perhaps there were many 
others, but interest centers more around those of 
the early days when guests went armed and In- 
dians dropped in for a chat, looking for a Delmonico 
in that wilderness. 



Pastime Sketches 31 



CHAPTER VI. 

EARLY METHODS OF TRANSPORTATION. 

A few years ago two small books were found in 
a collection of old relics dating back to the stage 
coach days. Tha. first was dated in 1838 and the 
later in 1847, and showed the stage routes. They 
were copies of "Indiana Delineated and Stage 
Guide for Travelers to the West." In the stage 
days Philadelphia was the center of trade, and the 
guide books carefully told tourists how to get there. 
In those days a man who had been to New York 
and back was a seven day wonder. 

The average charge in Indiana for stage coach 
transportation was 5 cents a mile and the rate of 
travel in fair weather about eight miles an hour. 
Many of the coaches stopped at night after making 
sixty miles in the daytime, but on the National road, 
east and west through Indianapolis, the coaches did 
not stop at night, and made 150 miles every twenty- 
four hours, the horses being changed often, the 
tourist sleeping but little. The trip from Evansville 
to Logansport took a week in good weather. In 
bad weather all schedules were abandoned, and a 
speed of over two miles an hour was often impos- 
sible. 

An old map of stage coach routes in Indiana in 
1838 is remarkable in that it shows with what uni- 
formity railroads succeeded stage coach routes. Lo- 
gansport then, as now, was a commercial center 
and "the capital" of northern Indiana, being situ- 



32 Pastime Sketches 

ated in the center of all that part of the State north 
of Indianapolis. Stage coaches ran from Logans- 
port to Indianapolis, to Delphi and Lafayette, to 
Pern, Wabash and Ft. Wayne, to Marion by way 
of Pern, to Kokomo and Muncie, to Xorth Man- 
chester, to Monticello, to Plymouth and South Bend 
and to other points by changes. There was no di- 
rect line to Chicago and none to Frankfort and 
Crawfordsville. The Wabash and Erie canal boat 
followed the stage coach a few years later. 

Twenty years after this map was made the rail- 
roads were destroying the usefulness of the stage 
coach. The first railroad into Logansport was 
opened in 1857. It was an extension of the Rich- 
mond and Newcastle road, and finally became the 
Cincinnati branch of the Panhandle. It came into 
Logansport on the Southside, and the station, water 
tank and turntable were just west of the turnpike, 
: ew rods south of the Wabash river. The hole 
dug for the turntable is all that is left to mark the 
spot. The first engine used on the road was a 
rather small affair. It was brought on a canal boat 
from the east and dragged to the track on the 
Southside. Travel was not very brisk in those days. 
When the Taber dam was built in the Wabash 
above Eighteenth street in 1859 the lumber was 
sawed at a mill owned by Williamson Wright at 
Lincoln. A car load was brought in at a time, the 
car being atttached to the passenger train and left 
standing on the main track, near the dam, until the 
next day. It was unloaded in the meantime, and 
the passenger train took the empty car back the 
next day. The trains were not very rapid nor the 
road very smooth, but it was quite a step in ad- 
vance of the old stage coach. The ulterior purpose 



Pastime Sketches 33 

of the projectors was not disclosed, probably- 
through fear of competition, but it was announced 
that the road would be extended southward along 
the line of the present Wabash road to Lafayette, 
and the line was surveyed and graded for some dis- 
tance. The probability is that this later line was 
intended as a branch, both lines uniting at Logans- 
port, with an extension north to Lake Michigan. 
The proposition of a railroad coming up one side 
of the State and going down the other was, how- 
ever, the one presented to the public. 

The history of this road is interesting. On the 
6th of February, 1848, a charter was issued to the 
Newcastle and Richmond Railroad Company, and in 
1851 the charter was amended to permit the road to 
extend north to some undetermined point on the 
Wabash river. The name at that time was changed 
to the Cincinnati, Logansport & Chicago Railway 
Company. Actual work was commenced in 1851, 
but it was not completed until later. The extension 
to Logansport was completed in the years fol- 
lowing, and the road was formally opened for busi- 
ness in 1857. William Lincoln, after whom the 
town of Lincoln was named, was the constructing 
engineer, and he afterwards built the Taber dam 
in the Wabash. In later years he was connected 
with the Wabash railroad, and lived at Logansport. 
Williamson Wright was president of the road. 

Following the Columbus division of the Panhan- 
dle, the Columbus & Piqua Railway Company was 
incorporated under the laws of Ohio, and was to 
be built to the Indiana State line. In 1852 the 
Marion and Mississinewa Valley Railway Company 
was incorporated to construct a road from Marion 
to Union City on the Ohio State line, and in 1853 



34 Pastime Sketches 

the Marion and Logansport Railway Company was 
incorporated to build from Logansport to Marion 
to connect at Anoka Junction with the Richmond 
road and enter Logansport on its tracks. The two 
were consolidated in 1854, and were afterwards sold 
to the L T nion & Logansport Railroad Company, 
which was incorporated in 1863. The road was 
opened up for business March 15th, 1868. 

The State Line road, as it is called, was incor- 
porated in 1853 under the name of the Logansport 
& Pacific Railway Company. William Chase of 
Logansport was president, and David M. Dunn of 
Logansport one of the directors. September 12th, 
1854, the name was changed to the Logansport, 
Peoria & Burlington Railroad Company, and work 
was commenced, but soon abandoned. The first 
named company executed a mortgage for one million 
dollars in 1853 to raise money to build the road, and 
T. H. Wilson and E. S. Rice signed as witnesses 
to the same, which was acknowledged before 
Charles B. Laselle, notary public. The road was 
changed to the Toledo, Logansport & Burlington 
Railway Company in 1858, and was formally opened 
for business July 1st, 1860. September 25th, 1857, 
the Chicago & Cincinnati Railroad Company was 
incorporated to build a road from Logansport to 
Valparaiso. The name was changed to the Chicago 
& Great Eastern Railway Company in 1863, and 
the terminus was changed to the eastern boundary 
of Illinois at Chicago. This consolidated with the 
Galena & Illinois River Railroad Company the same 
year, retaining the Great Eastern company name. 
A similar consolidation was made with the Chicago 
& Galena Railroad Company in 1867. The Cincin- 
nati & Chicago Air Line, incorporated in 1860, was 



Pastime Sketches 35 

also absorbed in 1865, and these all went to form 
the Great Eastern. Work was commenced north 
of Logansport in 1858 by the Cincinnati & Chicago 
Railroad Company, and the road to Chicago was 
formally opened in 1861. 

The Columbus, Chicago & Indiana Central Rail- 
road Company in 1868 was formed by a consolida- 
tion of the Columbus & Indiana Central, the Chi- 
cago & Great Eastern and the Toledo, Logansport 
& Burlington. By foreclosure of a mortgage and 
sale, the Chicago, St. Louis & Pittsburg Railroad 
Company, just formed, came into possession of this 
property in 1883. The result of a consolidation of 
the Jeffersonville, Madison & Indianapolis, this 
company and the Pittsburg, Cincinnati & St. Louis 
from Pittsburg to Columbus, in 1892, was the pres- 
ent great system known as the Pittsburg, Cincin- 
nati. Chicago & St. Louis Railway Company. 

The Wabash Valley railroad was the second 
line into Logansport. In later years the Eel River, 
the Logansport, Crawfordsville & Southwestern 
and the Vandalia north were built. 



36 Pastime Sketches 



CHAPTER VII. 

logansport's first boom. 

Logansport had its first boom when the Michi- 
gan road was built. There were no railroads, and 
the canal was not dug, so that a through wagon 
road was a great enterprise. One of the great 
projects of early days was a wagon road from Lake 
Michigan to the Ohio river, and it received both 
national and State aid. Governor James B. Ray 
was an earnest advocate of the road. In 1826 con- 
gress authorized a treaty with the Miami and Pot- 
towatomie Indians, which was entered into October 
16th. James B. Ray, General John Tipton of this 
city, and General Lewis Cass of Michigan, after 
whom Cass county was named, were the commis- 
sioners for the United States. By this treaty the 
Indians ceded a tract of land one hundred feet wide 
for a road and also one section of land for each mile 
of the road. The treaty also ceded a strip of land 
on Lake Michigan ten miles wide and several miles 
long for a suitable terminus for the road. For this 
concession, amounting to 171,414 acres, the Indians 
were to receive $2,000 in silver for twenty-two 
years, annually, a government blacksmith shop, a 
grist mill and 160 bushels of salt annually. In 1827 
congress passed an act authorizing the road, and 
January 24th, 1828, the State legislature provided 
for a survey. The first 36 miles were in the Terri- 
tory of Michigan, admitted as a State ten years 
later. At the thirty-six mile post, where the road 



Pastime Sketches 37 

entered Indiana, was afterwards located South 
Bend. 

Most of the country was dense forest, and trees 
had to be cut and stumps left not more than one 
foot above the level ground, grubbed thirty feet 
wide in the center of the road. In the swamps 
trees were rolled in to make a corduroy road. Lands 
were sold at public auction to pay for the road, and 
at South Bend on the first Monday in June, 1832, 
a sale of 13,709 acres brought in $18,134. A later 
sale in October of the same year of 15,113 acres 
brought in $26,635. At the close of October, 1832, 
there had been sold 58,432 acres at $90,141. Some 
of the lands in the central part of the State brought 
as high as $5.00 per acre. All but 1,840 acres had 
been sold up to 1836, and the money had 
gone into the construction. By February, 1832, 
the road had been opened from the Ohio river 
through Indianapolis to Logansport. By 1834 the 
road was completed and opened, though improve- 
ments continued for two or three years. Work 
ceased on it in 1837, and it was turned over to local 
authorities to keep in repair. It was 264 miles long 
and cut quite a figure in the early development of 
Indiana. The expenditures were $242,000 and the 
receipts from the sale of lands $241,331. In Cass 
county it followed the line of the present Burling- 
ton turnpike, except that it followed a line west of 
the Judge Chase residence south of town and 
crossed the Wabash just below Uhl's Mill. North 
it followed the line of the present road to Metea 
and Fulton. The road was not as smooth as as- 
phalt by any means, and those who traveled over 
it in the old-fashioned stage coaches never forgot 
the experience. Still, it was the main road north 



38 Pastime Sketches 

and south through the State, and it made Logans- 
port quite a business center. This was especially 
so when the Wabash and Erie canal crossed it in 
1838. 

In 1836 Indiana borrowed $12,000,000 for inter- 
nal improvements. Besides the Wabash and Erie 
canal, the State projected the White River canal, 
the Central canal, the Crosscut canal, the Madison 
& Lafayette railroad and the New Albany & Vin- 
cennes railroad. Up to 1838 fifty miles of the canal 
were in operation, and in that year the State re- 
ceived $1,398.37 in tolls. From October 1st, 1839, 
to November 1st, 1840, the State earned $14,561.11 
in tolls. Thousands of acres of canal lands were 
sold, and a great boom was started in the towns 
along the route. The canal was in operation from 
Ft. Wayne to Logansport in 1838, and was extended 
westward in 1839. Logansport at the intersection 
of the canal and the Michigan road, had the greatest 
opportunity of any to become a great business cen- 
ter, but some of the other cities outgrew it. Ground 
for the canal was first broken at Ft. Wayne on 
February 22, Washington's birthday, and the event 
was made the occasion of a great celebration. Canal 
Commissioner Vigus turned the first spadeful of 
earth. July 4th, 1843, the first packet, "Indiana," 
arrived from Ft. Wayne at Huntington, and Hugh 
McCulloch, twice secretary of the national treasury, 
delivered an oration. 

In 1843 the canal was completed to the Wabash 
at a point below Terre Haute and then was diverted 
south to the banks of the White river, beside which 
it ran till it reached the Ohio at Jeffersonville. The 
canal did not pay, the State was out of funds and 
the engineers issued interest-bearing notes called 



Pastime Sketches 39 

"red-dog," which would not go. Indiana issued 
bonds for half the debt, turning over the canal to 
the creditors for the other half. The canal did not 
earn enough to discharge its half of the obligation, 
and the obligations became an object of specu- 
lation. The canal was sold under a decree of the 
Federal court in 1876, and the State had the "canal 
question" off its hands. 

It was a great day for Logansport when water 
was turned in the canal. The entire population 
gathered on the banks to greet -the oncoming tide 
which was to bring prosperity to Logansport's com- 
merce. And the first canal boat ! No elephant in 
any circus was ever a greater attraction. There 
was no use asking any one if he had seen it, for a 
roll call would have shown no one missing, not 
even the infant in arms. It was a muddy, trickling 
stream that found its way first through the forest 
which crowned the hills above Fifth street. At 
length it was whispered around at dusk that the 
canal was filled. But there was not general re- 
joicing the next day, for the rock through which 
the canal was blasted was made up of layers 
with seams between and the entire population was 
engaged in bailing out the cellars below Fifth 
street. The supply of canal water was inexhausti- 
ble, however, and the effort was a dismal failure. 

Both the Michigan road and the Wabash and 
Erie canal were great factors in the development 
of Northern Indiana, but inside of twenty years the 
railroads came to Logansport and took possession 
of much of the traffic. With the canal came a col- 
lector of the port, warehouses along its banks and 
a thriving grain business, wheat and corn being 
hauled from points thirty miles north and south. 



40 Pastime Sketches 

With the canal also came the boatman, who taught 
the people many new kinds of oaths. The pioneer 
canal boatman was a rough and ready frontiersman, 
who addressed people in the same polite way he 
spoke to his mules. It was part of the early life 
and development of a great country, which no doubt 
has been forgotten. 



Pastime Sketches 41 



CHAPTER VIII. 

YE OLDE LOGANSPORT. 

The approaching hundredth anniversary of the 
State has revived interest in Indiana history. Many 
local celebrations will likely be held by historical 
societies over the State in commemoration of his- 
toric events prior thereto. Logansport and Cass 
county have no centennials to celebrate, as there 
are not enough Indians left to get up much of a 
celebration, and there were no white men here one 
hundred years ago. The organization of Indiana 
Territory in 1800 might be ground for a 107th an- 
niversary here, and all over the State. One noted 
citizen, General John Tipton, came to Indiana Ter- 
ritory just one hundred years ago, but he did not 
come to Logansport till later, probably because 
there was no Logansport to come to. This centen- 
nial might make a good date for Logansport, as 
part of Indiana Territory, to celebrate. General 
John Tipton moved his Indian agency from Ft. 
Wayne to Logansport, March 28th, 1826, eighty- 
one years ago. The original plot of Logansport was 
surveyed April 16th, 1828, and on August 12th, 
1829, Logansport was made the county seat and has 
been the capital of Cass counts' ever since. This 
was seventy-eight years ago, and August 12th is 
a good time for a summer meeting of the historical 
society. Cass county was organized April 13th, 
1829, previously. The first session of the county 
commissioners was held at the old seminary May 



42 Pastime Sketches 

1st, 1829, and in August Logansport was chosen as 
the county seat. 

Alexander Chamberlain was the first white set- 
tler, August, 1826, and, strange to say, started a 
hotel. However, Indian agents and pioneers were 
coming to this locality, and a hotel was needed. 
The hotel was on the south bank of the Wabash 
river, opposite the mouth of Eel river. It was a 
modest log cabin, without elevators or_ electric 
lights. A modest home-made sign read: "Enter- 
tainment by A. Chamberlain." 

Edwin McCartney soon built a trading house, 
buying furs of the Indians, further down the river, 
but he did not find trade good and "went out west/' 
William Newman and wife "moved in" in the spring 
of 1827 and erected a house on the Wabash, two 
miles west of the Chamberlain house. The third 
settler was James Burch, who built still further 
down the river. He soon sold to Christian Simons, 
father of Benjamin Simons. On the north bank of 
the Wabash, Major Daniel Bell, a brother-in-law 
of General Tipton, settled March 27th, 1827, and 
built near what is now the corner of Berkley and 
the Panhandle railroad. Joseph Barron settled in 
June, 1827. He was the celebrated Indian interpre- 
ter, and was in the battle of Tippecanoe, where he 
did valiant service for General Harrison, in com- 
mand there. Hugh B. McKain also came in June, 
1827. He was the first postmaster. Chauncey Car- 
ter was appointed surveyor of Indian lands after the 
treaty with the Miamis and Pottawatomies, and 
surveyed the lands around Logansport, coming 
from Ft. Wayne to Logansport. March 28th, 1828, 
General John Tipton moved his family from Ft. 
Wayne and occupied the Chamberlain tavern, after- 



Pastime Sketches 43 

wards building near the present Panhandle round- 
house. April 10th, 1828, Chauncey Carter surveyed 
the original plat of Logansport. Corner lots at that 
time were held at $75 and inside lots at $50. Lots 
were sold on condition that the purchaser build at 
least a one-story house not less than eighteen feet by 
twenty feet. Thus Logansport had its first building 
boom. Some authorities say that the honor of nam- 
ing the town was settled by a rifle contest, Hugh B. 
McKain winning. At least he has the credit of nam- 
ing the town, and it was named after Captain 
Logan, a noted Shawnee chief, who lost his life 
fighting for the whites in November, 1812. The 
"port" was added because the town was thought to 
be the head of navigation on the Wabash. 

Thomas B. Helm says in his history of Cass 
county that John B. Duret bought the first lot in 
Logansport. George W. Ewing the second and Cy- 
rus Taber the third and fourth. It is true that 
Duret was promised a lot for his work in making 
the plat, and later received a deed for lot number 
one, but this is not the first deed. The deed for one 
was made on Washington's birthday, February 22, 
1830. The lot is at the corner of Canal street and 
Eel river, what is known as "The Point," and on it 
was erected the first brick house in Cass county. 
There were, however, earlier deeds. 

The honor of purchasing the first lot in the now 
prosperous city of Logansport belongs to Gillis Mc- 
Bean, for his deed to lot 30 bears date of August 
10th, 1829. This is the Kreuzberger corner, Third 
and Market, and the consideration was $75. W. G. 
and G. W. Ewing bought lot 51 on the 5th day of 
September, 1829. This is the Ward shoe store cor- 
ner, northeast corner of Market and Third. M. D. 



44 Pastime Sketches 

Grover bought lot 36 the same day. This is on the 
south side of Market, between Second and Third, 
and is owned by Father Kroeger. Cyrus Taber 
bought lot 47 on the 17th day of September, 1829, 
and on it in 1838 erected the fourth brick house in 
Cass county, corner Second and Broadway. From 
best information it seems that the present Broad- 
way house was the third brick house and the Graf 
house on Market street the second. 



Pastime Sketches 45 



CHAPTER IX. 

YE EARLY SCHOOLS. 

There is much historical matter contained in the 
various histories of the city and county, and these 
dates are referred to more as a reminder and not in 
any attempt to reproduce county history. There 
are, however, interesting stories of Cass' United 
States Senators, Tipton, Fitch, Pratt and Turpie. 
Cass had more than any county in the State except 
Marion (Indianapolis), and there are names distin- 
guished in military history also. Perhaps no more 
interesting book could be written than one giving 
the early tales of the two market houses and the 
"taverns in our town." Newspaper life in early 
days has been portrayed in past years by some of 
the pioneers, but there is much that is unwritten. 

The history of Logansport and Cass county 
schools began as early as 1828. Shortly after the 
settlement of the town General John Tipton took 
the lead in the organization of the "Eel River Semi- 
nary Society." The society was incorporated by a 
special act of the legislature, which was approved 
January 1st, 1829. This act is interesting by reason 
of its being the foundation of the present public 
school system in Cass county. It reads as follows: 

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assem- 
bly of the State of Indiana, That John Tipton, Hugh 
B. McKain, Gillis McBean, William Scott, Alexan- 
der Chamberlain, Joseph Barron, Hiram Todd, 
Chauncey Carter and John Smith, Sr., shall be and 



46 Pastime Sketches 

hereby are constituted a body corporate and politic, 
by the name and style of "the president and trus- 
tees of the Eel river seminary society ;" and in their 
corporate name and capacity may sue and be sued, 
plead and be impleaded, in any court of competent 
jurisdiction, and by that name shall have perpetual 
succession. 

Sec. 2. The trustees shall be elected annually, 
on the first Friday in October, by the subscribers 
to said society, under such regulations as a majority 
of them shall from time to time adopt, and shall 
elect a president, secretary and treasurer from their 
own members. The said president and trustees 
shall be competent, in law and equity, to take to 
themselves and their successors, in their said cor- 
porate name, any estate, real or personal, by the 
gift, grant, bargain, sale or bequest of any person 
or persons whomsoever, and the same estate, wheth- 
er real or personal, to grant, bargain, sell or convey, 
or otherwise dispose of, as shall by them be deemed 
most beneficial to the interest and prosperity of said 
seminary. 

Sec. 3. The said trustees shall cause to be made 
for their own use one common seal, with such de- 
vices and inscriptions thereon as they may think 
proper, by which all deeds and acts of the corpora- 
tion shall be authenticated. 

Sec. 4. The said trustees shall meet at the 
dwelling house of Chauncey Carter, Esq., in Lo- 
gansport in the county of Cass, on the first Monday 
of April next, or on any day that a majority of the 
trustees may agree upon, and, after severally taking 
an oath or affirmation, faithfully and impartially to 
discharge the duties by this act enjoined, proceed to 



Pastime Sketches 47 

elect their president, secretary and treasurer, as 
aforesaid. 

Sec. 5. The trustees, after being organized in 
manner aforesaid, shall have power to determine 
the time of their future meetings, and the manner 
of notifying the same ; act on their own adjourn- 
ments ; to employ such instructors as they may 
think proper, and the same discharge at their pleas- 
ure ; to regulate and direct the mode of instruction; 
and to make and ordain such by-laws and regula- 
tions as may be necessary for the well-being of said 
society, not repugnant to the laws and constitution 
of this State. 

Sec. 6. The trustees shall cause a record of their 
proceedings to be kept in a book to be procured by 
them for that purpose, which record shall be open 
for the inspection of all persons concerned. The 
treasurer shall receive all monies belonging to said 
seminary society, and pay them out by the order of 
the trustees, and not otherwise. 

Sec. 7. The trustees shall have power to ap- 
point such agents and attorneys for said corpora- 
tion as they may think necessary ; which shall be 
in writing, and all appointments and orders of the 
trustees, shall be signed by their President, under 
the seal of said corporation, and attested by their 
secretary. 

Sec. 8. This act to take effect, and be in force 
from and after the first Monday in March, next. 

By an act of the legislature, approved February 
4th, 1831, the name of the corporation was changed 
to the "Cass County, Eel River Seminary Society." 

The old seminary was erected in 1828. The first 
school was opened in February, 1829, with John 
McKinney, of Detroit, as teacher. He was em- 



48 Pastime Sketches 

ployed at S100 per quarter and the charges for 
tuition were $3 and $4 per term. McKinney re- 
mained but one term and at the winter session of 
six months, beginning Dec. 8th, George Lyon was 
principal and Mrs. John B. Turner assistant teacher. 
The building was a one-story brick with two 
rooms. A hall across the center separated the 
rooms. It stood on lot 55, original plat, a gift 
from the owner, Chauncey Carter. It was a low 
building, 20 by 40 feet, and faced Market street. 
Lot 55 is the west half of the quarter of the square 
at the northeast corner of Market and Fourth 
streets. The building was back in the lot almost 
to the alley, now Wall street. 

The building cost about $300. When the pro- 
ject was agitated by Gen. Tipton, he subscribed 
$150 and almost $500 was raised. In June, 1830, 
the year was divided into two sessions of five 
months each, and summer and winter sessions were 
held. Rev. Hiram A. Hunter was elected principal 
at $500 per year and a residence. George Lyon 
was teacher at the winter session and the summer 
session of 1831 was in charge of Selby Harney. In 
April, 1832, this society and the Cass County Sem- 
inary Society were united under the name of the 
"Cass County, Eel River Seminary Society" by 
which it was later known. 

The "Old Seminary" was an important building 
n the early history of the city and county. Here 
the first county commissioners met, the first courts 
were held and the first courtships took place. 
Churches were organized here and the elections for 
the entire county were held within its portals. 
Marriages were sometimes solemnized and often 



Pastime Sketches 49 

within its walls were gathered almost the entire 
population, less than three hundred in 1829. 

As early as 1836 the growing population render- 
ed the building too small for the purposes for which 
it was erected and steps were taken toward the 
construction of a new school house. In November 
of that year it was determined to sell the property, 
then more valuable for business purposes, and to 
erect a building of larger capacity. This resulted 
in the construction of the new seminary building, 
a three-story stone on Thirteenth street, between 
Market and Broadway, where the Central building 
now stands. The building was not completed until 
September, 1849, and cost $6,465.11. Rev. M. M. 
Post, an early Presbyterian minister of 1828, was 
elected principal and a corps of teachers was em- 
ployed. Irwin W. Gates was the next principal and 
Rev. H. W. Shaw succeeded him. This building 
was torn down in 1874, when the present Central 
building was erected. One or two of the pupils 
of the "Old Seminary" are still living in the city 
and county and recall their early school days in the 
little brick. Many more are living who attended 
the stone seminary on Thirteenth street. During 
the later "thirties" many township schools were 
organized in Cass county which are fully described 
in Helm's History of Cass County and need no 
mention here. The lot on 13th street — It was then 
Tipton street — appears as "Seminary Square" in the 
John Tipton's administrator's addition to Logans- 
port laid out in 1843. The consideration named 
in the deed is $56. 

There were several private schools where the 
present older generation received instruction and 
these will furnish another chapter. Many of those 



50 Pastime Sketches 

living today learned their alphabet at one of these 
schools. Mrs. Cowan taught school in the log 
cabin, afterwards the home of William Davis, cor- 
ner of Seventh and Broadway streets. There was 
a school on the southeast corner of Third and 
Broadway, upstairs in 1857. George Palmer and 
Walter McCrea are two of the sole survivors of 
this school. James Jackson was a teacher and he 
also taught in the Methodist church on Sixth street 
and on the Westside, where Castle's grocery is. 
There was a school in the Nash house, corner Sixth 
and North streets. Mrs. Phebe Egbert taught 
school for several years in the basement of the 
Episcopal church, corner of Market and Seventh 
streets. She taught there as early as 1859 and later 
in the house where the Johnston Hotel now stands. 
The Tenth street public school was established in 
1857 or 1858, corner Tenth and Market. The Lo- 
gansport Presbyterian Academy, Smithson College 
and the Business Colleges were institutions which 
deserve further notice. All helped to lead up to 
the present admirable public school system. Schools 
were also taught where Shideler & Grace's store is 
and at the corner of of Broadway and Fourth, where 
the H. Wiler & Co. store is located. 

Both the Lutherans and the Catholics established 
excellent schools early in the history of the city and 
these have increased in numbers and in efficiency 
as the city grew. The Holy Angels Academy has 
long been one of the leading educational institu- 
tions. 



Pastime Sketches 51 



CHAPTER X. 

' SOME HISTORY SUGGESTION. 

A sketch of the early days is hardly complete 
without mention of the churches, yet most of the 
organizations have published historical pamphlets, 
the history written by Thomas B. Helm goes fully 
into details and there is little new to record. The 
fraternal orders have gathered together much inter- 
esting history also. 

The vigorous early times were productive of 
some church dissensions. The separation of the 
Presbyterian church by reason of which there was 
a "New School" and an "Old School," was not ac- 
complished without some bitterness. The original 
Presbyterian building, still standing on the alley 
running from Fifth to Sixth streets between Market 
and Broadway, shows that. The doors still bear 
the marks of the axe with which one faction broke 
into the church to hold services. 

The differences, which existed for so many 
years, were at length happily adjusted and the 
branches were reunited. The growth of the various 
church denominations has been steady, and hand- 
some edifices have taken the place of the modest 
frame buildings, whose bells pealed out each Sun- 
day morning to call the pioneers to worship. 

And so, too, the fraternal organizations have 
built, or are building homes of their own, of im- 
posing architecture to add to the city's beauty and 
permanency. The school buildings, the churches, 



52 Pastime Sketches 

the temples and the homes are all neat and endur- 
ing and go to make up a city of handsome details. 
The Library, The post office, the hotels and busi- 
ness houses add to the general good effect as do 
some of the railroad stations. 

There are several interesting sketches of the 
early newspapers in print. One of the first duties 
of the Historical Society should be to make a 
complete bound collection of the early files. The 
newspapers of the present generation have com- 
plete files of their own, and as they are available 
for reference, there is no necessity, perhaps for 
duplicates, although there is some advantage in 
owning files. The eastern papers now keep a com- 
plete index of their files, and this is printed an- 
nually, so that by a reference to the index of each 
year it is possible to trace events of news. 

The pioneer newspapers are full of interesting 
historical data. In recent years several of these 
files were destroyed thoughtlessly and the Charles 
B. Laselle collection, probably more nearly com- 
plete than any, is neglected in a room in the court 
house with no one to care for it while he himself is 
an inmate of the hospital. The Biddle collection 
is stored in the basement of the high school build- 
ing, unclassified and inaccessable. There are some 
odd numbers scattered about but there are no other 
large collections. The Thomas B. Helm collection 
was sold for old paper when he died and the Wil- 
liamson Wright collection was destroyed by fire. 
Steps should be taken at once to sort and bind the 
Biddle collection and to prevent the loss of the La- 
selle collection. 

There are several other subjects that might be 
written about, the courts, and the stories of the 



Pastime Sketches 53 

early bar, politics and elections, and so on. It was 
not until 1840 that precincts were inaugurated. Be- 
fore that the voters of the entire county voted at 
the court house, in town, coming many miles over 
very bad roads, some of them. The early fire de- 
partment history was compiled by Harry W. Bring- 
hurst, now chief of the fire department at Seattle, 
Washington, some years ago. 

A sketch of Logansport men in the United States 
Senate, and their public work, involves research 
which it would take days to make. Such a sketch 
ought to be written. The Historical Society may 
take this up at some future time. In any event the 
ground-work is laid for the work of the Society. 

The Historical Society should early in its career 
secure quarters and begin the collection of the 
valuable data being lost from time to time. Until 
it has a central home of its own it will not be pos- 
sible to gather a great deal of material. I sug- 
gested the Biddle home as the most suitable and 
available place. A State law authorizes county 
commissioners to expend not to exceed five thous- 
and dollars for the purchase of a home for a His- 
torical Society after such society has been in active 
existence for five years. A resort to this law would 
not likely be necessary. In New England the rev- 
enues derived from the contributions of daily 
visitors provide a fund sufficient to cover current 
expenses and to establish a sinking fund with which 
to pay for the property. Thus these institutions 
are self-supporting. 

Could the Biddle home be rented for five years, 
with an option on it at the end of that time, I have 
no doubt it would be self-supporting and also pay 
for itself. The revenues would certainly pay cur- 
rent expenses which would be nominal. Should 



54 Pastime Sketches 

they not, however, the annual dues of one dollar 
would be sufficient for the purpose, as there are 
practically no expenses, the caretaker, as in New 
England, getting the rent of part of the house as 
pay for keeping the house open a few hours each 
day. 

This is merely a suggestion to the Historical 
Society as to what is possible in this direction, at no 
expense, practically. The time is ripe for such a 
movement, and failure to enter earestly into the 
work at the present time will result in the loss of 
much more historical data. The Logansport So- 
ciety has a good start, and a good organization. 
There is an abundance of material and no doubt 
the work will go on smoothly, whatever plan is 
adopted. The suggestions here made, as a result of 
of observations in New England, are offered be- 
cause they are the result of some study of the sub- 
ject and may be of some value on that account. 

In the early settlement of this territory money 
was unknown. The Indians had a medium of ex- 
change they called wampum which consisted of 
pieces of bone, metal or stone. Among the whites 
values were determined by coon skins, muskrat 
skins and furs of other animals. These furs would 
purchase so much of this or that from the fur 
traders and so had a given value. Besides this they 
were transportable easily and so became the basis 
of exchange. Naturally, in a new country, sparsely 
settled, there was little to exchange, each family 
providing for its own wants as best it could. The 
farms and the forests supplied the necessities of 
life and it was only under a more advanced civili- 
zation that the shop became an important factor 
in a community. 



Pastime Sketches 55 



CHAPTER XL 

EARLY BANKING IN LOGANSPORT. 

The war with Great Britain caused the general 
government to disburse large sums of money for 
troops and supplies and thus in 1812 money became 
more plentiful. In 1814 the territorial legislature 
chartered two banks, one at Vincennes, with a 
capital stock of a half million dollars, and one at 
Madison capitalized at seven hundred and fifty 
thousand dollars. When the war ended the banks 
had issued more currency than they could redeem 
and a crash followed. The members of the first 
Indiana constitutional convention incorporated a 
clause providing for a State bank with branches, 
not exceeding one branch for every three counties. 
The banks at Madison and Vincennes were also to 
retain their charters. The bank at Vincennes was 
adopted by the legislature as a State bank and 
entered an era of missmanagement. Its notes be- 
came worthless and steps were taken to cancel its 
charter. The bank at Madison was more success- 
ful and its notes were all, after some time, redeem- 
ed. 

In 1832 the State entered upon an era of internal 
improvements, spending several million dollars. 
Michigan had established a system of banking with 
no safeguards and this bank money was seized upon 
by contractors for use in paying for labor. Soon 
nothing else was in circulation. The merchants 



56 Pastime Sketches 

accepted it at a heavy discount. They could use it 
in paying their bills by accepting a similar discount. 
At the same time the merchants and millers issued 
bills redeemable in merchandise at the store of the 
merchant or miller issuing the same. Naturally 
these were of no value far from home. Then the 
temptation to issue unlimited quantities became 
irresistible and the banks became bankrupt with 
thousands of dollars outstanding. 

In 1834 the State Bank of Indiana was chartered. 
The State was divided into ten districts for branches 
and on November 20th, 1834, the bank opened. It 
became involved in the financial policies of Presi- 
dent Jackson and the panic of 1837 which followed. 
Its bills were redeemable in specie and remained 
good. They were therefore hoarded and depre- 
ciated currency only found its way into circulation. 
The people had no money for the needs of com- 
merce and the State had none and could get none 
in the east. As a means of relief State script to 
the amount of a million and a half was authorized, 
to bear six per cent interest and be receivable in 
taxes. This script was called "Red Dog" from the 
color of the paper it was printed on. It did not 
restore public confidence and fell to forty cents on 
the dollar. It was however all redeemed by the 
State. 

At the session of the Legislature in 1853 a free 
bank law was passed over the governor's veto and a 
charter given to the Bank of the State of Indiana. 
Hon. Hugh McCulloch afterwards secretary of the 
treasury became president of the bank, and not- 
withstanding the governor's fears it became a suc- 
cess. Two years afterward a panic, swept over the 
country. Every bank in the east except the Chemi- 



Pastime Sketches 57 

cal of New York, supended. And in the west only 
the Bank of the State of Indiana and the Bank of 
Kentucky weathered the storm. Every private bank 
in the State except two at Indianapolis and one at 
Fort Wayne closed. 

After the passage of the National banking law 
most of the banks became national banks and in 
1865 the legislature authorized the winding up of 
the affairs of the State Bank. 

The constitution of 1851 authorizing a free 
banking law, and the law passed by the general 
assembly under that authority caused great dis- 
aster. Banks were still floundering in financial 
troubles, local communities were in worse difficul- 
ties. The merchants issued bills to an unlimited 
extent, payable in goods, and failed because they 
could not buy goods without gold. Others were 
purposely taking advantage of the condition of af- 
fairs. Bills which would not circulate in a com- 
munity because of lack of confidence in the persons 
issuing them were sent to other communities, where 
they were unknown, in exchange for bills equally 
unknown thirty miles from their home office. Thus 
bills from Ohio no one knew anything about were 
in circulation in Indiana, while the equally obscure 
Indiana bills circulated in Ohio. A publication 
known as the Bank Note Detector attempted to 
keep the public advised as to the value of bills but 
it was not possible to print reports as rapidly as 
bills were printed and the publication was always 
considerably behind the times. 

The money of the times was called "Wildcat" 
money, probably because of its wild and uncertain 
character. Much of it, good or bad, was known 
by the color of paper, or ink. used and so there was 



58 Pastime Sketches 

•'White Dog," "Blue Pup" and other kinds accord- 
ing to the name the printing or color suggested 
to the pioneer. 

Logansport was an important center of com- 
merce in the early days. It was a village on the 
trail of the Indians, a town on the Michigan Road, 
almost a city in the canal days and considered very 
much a city when the railroads were begun. It 
handled in its commerce and construction work all 
the known kinds of money in circulation in those 
days and probably no city in the State had more 
experience with the fluctuating, uncertain, unreli- 
able currency of the years between the admission 
of the State to the Union and the Civil war. To 
the credit of the pioneers of Logansport be it said 
that while, owing to the limited travel, its money 
was not known and was therefore discounted a 
short distance from home, it was in most instances 
redeemed and the holders lost nothing. The vicis- 
situdes of travel were great in those days. In ad- 
dition to undergoing the hardships of almost im- 
passable roads, dangers from Indians and frontier 
bandits, the pioneer was liable to find no bill among 
his varied collection acceptable to the landlord for 
his lodging and breakfast a few miles from home. 

As far as can be learned the first Logansport 
bank was a private bank and was situated on Mar- 
ket street, on the north side, sixty feet below 
Fourth street. This was in 1837, or 1838. James 
Warren was president of it and and the business 
was conducted in one small room. There was a 
table in it, and president, cashier and customers sat 
around it. 

The second bank was started some years later. 
It was organized in 1847 or 1848, with George B. 



Pastime Sketches 59 

Walker president, and Col. William Brown, after- 
wards killed in the Civil war, as cashier. It trans- 
acted business on Third street, East Side, sixty feet 
or more from Market street. It was known as 
the "Logansport Insurance Bank." James E. 
Cheney started a bank in 1850 on Fourth street, 
opposite the court house, and John Ingram was 
cashier. Mr. Cheney was afterward a great finan- 
cier, a director in the Wabash railroad and a mil- 
lionaire. Mr. Ingram organized later the State 
Bank, now the State National, of which John Gray 
is president. 

The "Hoosier Bank" was also opposite the 
court house and Philip Pollard was president in 
1848. It was in the stone building occupied by 
Senator D. D. Pratt as a law office and later by W. 
T. Wilson. W. E. Haney and John W. Wright 
had a bank on Sixth street, between Broadway and 
North, west side of the street, on the south side of 
the alley, in the early fifties. Of this there is not 
much information to be had. Mr. Kendrick, who 
built the home now occupied by Judge D. P. Bald- 
win, had a bank on Market street along in the 
fifties, in the room across the alley from Snider's. 
With the passage of the National banking law 
and more stringent state bank laws came the first 
National Bank, still in existence, the Peoples' Bank, 
and the City State Bank, now the State National. 
The Peoples' Bank failed, with many law suits, 
and the City State Bank went through a panic 
and was reorganized as the State National. The 
Logansport State Bank sprung into existence under 
sound state laws and since then two other banks, 
the Bowen Bank and the Loan & Trust Company 



60 Pastime Sketches 

have added to the banking facilities of Logans- 
port. 

The days of wildcat money have gone by, State 
and national laws have safe-guarded the public 
against the lack of judgment of bank officials and 
the era of bank failures has passed. Logansport 
has sound banking institutions and their bills are 
good anywhere in the United States, Europe, Asia, 
Africa, or South America. It is a wonderful con- 
trast over conditions fifty years ago. 



Pastime Sketches 61 



CHAPTER XII. 

YE OLDE MARKETS. 

Logansport in its early days had two markets. 
The first one stood in the middle of the otherwise 
vacant square bounded by Fourth and Fifth streets, 
and Broadway and North streets. It was just a 
roof, resting on pillars of brick, the pillars ten or 
twelve feet apart. A cyclone in 1845 carried the 
roof away and ended the usefulness of the market 
house. 

According to best authorities, market days were 
Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. There were 
no stalls of fancy dry goods and the bon bon stand 
and peanut roaster were conspicious for their ab- 
sence. Fruits, vegetables, meats, hay, feed, wood, 
butter, eggs and other farm products were the prin- 
cipal articles for sale. The money used was prin- 
cipally foreign coin, and a "fip and a bit" the pre- 
vailing price for many things. A "fip" was an 
English 6% cent piece, while a "bit" was 12^ 
cents. Two bits made a quarter, or the shilling of 
those days. 

This Broadway market was just back of the 
present Wiler & Wise store. The building was 
150 feet long and 25 feet wide, with a shingle 
roof. It fronted on the Wabash and Erie canal, 
which ran along Fifth street, and which was com- 
pleted from Fort Wayne as far as Eel river along 
about 1837. Mr. E. S. Rice, president of the First 



62 Pastime Sketches 

National Bank, came to Logansport on a canal 
boat in 1838 and remembers the old market well. 
The aqueduct over Eel river was completed in 
1839 and Logansport became only a way station 
instead of a terminal. 

The second market was built six or seven years 
after the old one blew away — about 1851. It was 
of brick and much more pretentious than the old 
market. It was 150 feet long and 30 feet wide, with 
shingled roof, and stood in the middle of Market 
street between Second and Third streets, where 
the street was widened to form "Market Square." 
The street has never been narrowed to conform 
to the rest of Market street and for many years 
the spot was known as Market Square. The com- 
modities on sale were about the same as at the old 
market and the money was the same, English coin 
and "Wildcat" bank paper money. This latter 
money fluctuated a good deal, as no one knew at 
night whether or not the banks would open the next 
morning. On this account the money was not good 
far from home. Many are the tales of sales of 
farms and horses wherein the receiver of the Wild- 
cat money arrived in town to find the bank closed 
and the money worthless. 

The new market was not used much and gradu- 
ally fell into decay. The children of the day played 
"I spy" about its nooks and corners and finally 
it was torn away. After that the wood and hay 
wagons stood about the court house and later at 
Sixth street and Broadway, the vegetables and 
fruits were sold by grocers and Logansport had no 
general market. No doubt many interesting stories 
could have been told by the older residents about 
these markets if any attempt had been made to 



Pastime Sketches f>3 

gather them. Mr. E. S. Rice tells of having been 
sent as a boy to the old Broadway market to get 
some steak. There were several others there on 
the same errand but the supply was exhausted. In 
reply to repeated calls for steaks and no other kind 
of meat, a German farmer vender said testily, 
"What you tinks, I grow my cows all steaks?'' 

The old market days were days of gossip, of 
political argument and exchange of news. Horses 
were traded and farms swapped. Busy candidates 
shook hands and sought votes and the fate of the 
country was decided every market day. The 
Lightning Express Packet on the old canal brought 
news of the outside world several weeks late and 
its arrival, days after a presidential election, 
brought out a crowd to get the election returns. 
The man who took a New York Tribune and got it 
via the Lightning Express on the canal was the 
most popular man in town until everybody read his 
paper, and perhaps afterwards. Today the farmer 
sits in his home with his telephone near him and 
talks with New York, if he wants to, after reading 
his morning paper, brought to him by Rural Route 
or Interurban. Such is the growth of the country 
and its progress in a little over half a century. 



64 Pastime Sketches 



CHAPTER XIII. 

SOME THOUGHTS OF HISTORY. 

In these sketches of early days it was not my 
purpose to write a history. The complete and ex- 
haustive history written by Thomas B. Helm in 
1878 leaves little for later workers in that field. 
Nor had I in mind anything more than a few 
sketches of early conditions within the memory of 
some still living, for possible use in a historical 
scrap-book. For this reason I have avoided details, 
and statistics already collated in other forms and 
confined myself more to description. There are 
many subjects that will perhaps not be referred to, 
owing to the completeness of the historical data 
already published, and no doubt much that would 
be interesting will be overlooked. Mr. Helm has 
given a detail history of church and fraternal or- 
ganization in the city and county and several- of 
the churches have published historical sketches. 
These are interesting and complete and need no 
repetition. There are other publications of a simi- 
lar character in the historical field so that it is pos- 
sible to gather together quite a library, of which 
these may be an humble part. Be that as it may, 
they are only sketches, not comprehensive history. 
And since Mr. Helm has so ably filled the broader 
field they must of necessity be somewhat limited 
in scope. There is a vast amount of interesting 
detail that might be gathered and it is by no means 



Pastime Sketches 65 

my thought to try to exhaust the field not covered 
by Mr. Helm, but rather to add my small contribu- 
tion to the general fund of historical knowledge. 
The story of manufacture is itself an interesting 
one. beginning with the ginseng factory of 1829 
when that root was an extensive article of com- 
mence and Logansport had a factory for refining the 
product. A pottery works was another important 
interest in its day, and a tannery came later. The 
wealth of splendid timber caused numerous wood- 
working shops to spring up and there was a distill- 
ery or two. The subject of manufacture is partic- 
ularly interesting because of the lessons it teaches 
of changed conditions of civic growth. 

The value of history lies in the fact that it is 
an unerring guide to future welfare and progress, 
the charm of it is rather in the little details that go 
to make up the daily life of a community, in an era 
of the past, or a country so foreign as to possess dis- 
similar customs and novel characteristics. The 
philosophy of it is inseparably allied with the ro- 
mance that makes it attractive. These short 
sketches are nothing more than they pretend to be 
and to the reader is left the task of discovering the 
philosophy, or finding the romance of the history 
they contain. 

It is not difficult to imagine the lone log cabin 
in the forest on the south bank of the Wabash 
river, opposite the mouth of Eel river, the first tav- 
ern, nor the two-story log cabin near, later the 
tavern. Nor does it require much flight of the im- 
agination to picture the small trading house and 
the one or two other scattered cabins along the 
south bank of the river, all of Logansport prior to 
1827. Nor will it be so very difficult to see in the 



66 Pastime Sketches 

mind's eye the little log- cabin of Daniel Bell, in 
the forest near the present Wabash Station, the 
first, and for a time, the only house between the 
rivers. There were no roads, no canal, no im- 
provements. An uneven, wooded hill with steep 
declines and valleys was Market street hill, after- 
wards graded, cleared and cut out of all semblance 
to its original shape by the hand of man. It was 
virgin soil, unvisited, except by wild beasts, for 
generations. Not a hundred years ago, it is hard 
to realize ! Add a log house here and there in a 
clearing in the forest and a picture is formed of 
Logansport for the next few years. The canal came 
in 1838 and the Michigan Road shortly before. 
Logansport was then a struggling village and its 
appearance year by year can be followed with lit- 
tle effort of the imagination. Settlements were 
miles apart. 

The cabins of those days were made of round 
logs. The cracks were chunked and daubed, and 
there was usually only one door. The one or two 
windows were cut through the logs, half in an up- 
per log and the other half in the lower. The fire- 
place was hewn through the logs and about the hole 
was built the chimney. It was made of small split 
sticks packed with clay. The back of the fireplace 
sides and bottom were made of clay or mud, mois- 
tened to make them pack readily. The floors were 
made of heavy hewn timbers and the roofs were 
covered with clapboards. There was seldom more 
than one room, with a shed, and a loft for the ac- 
commodation of visitors. The cooking was done in 
the fire-place and the smoke did not always find its 
way up the chimney. 

The pioneer home had no luxuries and was con- 



Pastime Sketches 67 

siderably deficient in the comforts of life. Blocks 
of wood, or roughly hewn benches answered for 
chairs while the dinner table was the family chest, 
the receptacle for all that was supposed to be val- 
uable about the house. The bedsteads were built 
with poles, the logs of the cabins supporting two 
sides and an upright pole forming the other corner 
of the square. The same sort of a clapboard used 
on the roof made the bed slats, and leaves were 
often used to fill the ticks. 

Thus with humble home and humbler fare the 
pioneer began his conquest of the forest. Before 
the first crop matured supplies were brought in ca- 
noes, or dug-outs from the most convenient older 
settlement. After that there was a husbanding of 
resources and the supply of staples was carefully 
guarded. The forests were rich in game, the 
streams abounded in fish and thus the pioneer sat- 
isfied his hunger and paved the way for greater 
agriculture and larger commerce. As communities 
grew the total of food reserve naturally increased, 
and, without any system of keeping books and with 
no breach of confidence and rare dishonesty, the 
pioneers moved forward to a more advanced civili- 
zation. 

The use of money brought with it dishonesty, 
credit brought breach of trust, and while the pio- 
neer system of exchange was sometimes incon- 
venient it was remarkably sound. The era of 
money was the era of "wildcat" money and the 
whole state floundered through a period of uncer- 
tain currency for many years. Confidence and mu- 
tual aid did not dignify the small local community 
alone for settlers voluntarily came from other vil- 
lages to aid in houseraising. 



68 Pastime Sketches 

The same flood of progress swept on to the 
westward, in which direction the course of empire 
is said to take its way. Then humanity settled 
down to acquire and enjoy the luxuries of life the 
pioneers had made possible. Manufacturing natur- 
ally followed agriculture and New England, the 
pioneer in the latter, became the work-shop of 
the west. Mining became a leading industry and 
the railroads annihilated the barriers of distance 
and made the nation as it is. Characteristics of 
communities are less marked, in fact, there is little 
by which to distinguish a New Englander from his 
western brother, but the restless spirit of progress 
still exists with the American people, still pioneers 
in paths of progress. 



Pastime Sketches 69 



CHAPTER XIV. 

LOGANSPORT IN RETROSPECT. 

A stroll through the streets of ancient Logans- 
port discloses much that is interesting. It does not 
take a great imagination to see the city in the early 
thirties, for it was not a great city. There were a 
few log, or frame buildings below Fifth street and 
three or four east of it. The postoffice was in a 
log cabin just east of the new Barnett Hotel. 
Streets were mere roads and native forest trees were 
plentiful. Indians mingled with the pale faces at 
the village store and coon-skins were used as 
money. The daughters of the pioneers met at the 
only well to discuss the latest styles from New 
York via pack-mule. All around were dense forests 
and the stillness was only broken by the song of 
the birds, the cry of some wild animal or the dull 
thud of the wood-choppers' axe, as he hewed out a 
clearing in the wilderness. 

But those were days of rapid progress. Lo- 
gansport acquired the Michigan Road and the Wa- 
bash and Erie Canal and became a city. It had 
a town marshal, a newspaper that tried to come out 
several times a year, and a fire department. Prom- 
inent citizens began putting "Esq." after their 
names. Meetings were called "at early candle- 
light" to discuss the city's future greatness. A 
poster, still inexistence, called upon the citizens to 
wake up, as Chicago was almost as large as Lo- 



70 Pastime Sketches 

gansport and would become the great city of the 
west if Logansport did not show more enterprise. 
Thus was organized the first Industrial Associa- 
tion, but somehow Chicago got ahead. 

The early Fire Department was like most of 
those of pioneer days. Every citizen kept a bucket 
at home to take with him to fires. Then came a 
"Fire House" where the buckets were stored. The 
first duty of every good and loyal citizen at the 
cry of "fire" was to rush to the "Fire House" and 
get a bucket. At the fire two lines were formed 
to the nearest water supply. One line passed up 
the full buckets and the other returned them when 
empty. When the early Barnett House at the 
corner of Third and Market streets caught fire it 
took the entire population of Logansport to extin- 
guish the blaze. A ladder was found somewhere 
and the line ran up the ladder to the fire. The 
man in front emptied the buckets judiciously, and 
as the buildings were small and the material heavy 
the fire was easily conquered. 

The old Barnett House afterwards burned to 
the ground under a better system of fire-fighting 
but it was not the fault of the fire-fighters. That 
was in the days of the hand-engines when every 
able-bodied man took his place at the brakes and 
pumped till the fire was out, sometimes because 
there was nothing left to burn. It was an efficient 
system for the times and the volunteers often took 
great risks. Not nearly as many as are taken now 
with high buildings and large compact blocks, but 
the element of danger was, and is, always pres- 
ent. 

What a great man was the Chief in the early 
days as he rushed about giving orders through a 
trumpet. "How many men on that roof? Five? 



Pastime Sketches 71 

Half of yez come down." There are probably no 
relics of the old "bucket brigade." S. B. Boyer has 
the minutes of the old Tipton volunteer company 
and George W. Fender the trumpet presented by 
admiring citizens to the chief of the Tipton com- 
pany. 

What a story could be written about the coun- 
ty fairs ! The old fair ground on the Northside, 
up on the hill in "Jobtown" was a center of early 
interest. There prize pumpkins and prize beauties 
contested for the honors of the day and people 
gathered for miles around to gaze at the fatted 
calf and the four-minute trotter. There matches 
were made and many a marriage had its beginning 
in a glance of the eye over the exhibits of "the 
best corn grown in the county." 

The old fair grounds went into a decline, the 
high board fence rotted away, and the stalls grad- 
ually disappeared. A new association had its day 
at the grounds now known as Spencer Park, but 
for many years the "county fair" has been un- 
known in Logansport. The Trotting Association 
has occupied the grounds, or part of them, but the 
old-fashioned fair has long been a thing of the 
past. The English people, perhaps more conserva- 
tive, cling to their Donnybrook fairs but the pro- 
gressive American is only content with an "Expo- 
sition." 

Progress has been rapid. Town pumps suc- 
ceeded the early wells, then came water works, 
railroads dried up the canal, and a paid fire de- 
partment followed the hand engines and the bucket 
brigade. Street railways occupy the streets and 
the toot of the automobile has taken the place of 
the Indian war-whoop in the once peaceful valley 
of the Wabash. 






72 Pastime Sketches 



CHAPTER XV. 

THE "CITY OF BRIDGES." — AN OLD HANDBILL. 

Logansport was early given trie name "The 
City of Bridges." Those new to the city hardly 
realize how appropriate the title was. With the 
canal passing along what is now Erie avenue and 
across Fifth street, over Eel river, and along the 
West-side where the Vandalia station now is, 
many bridges were needed. The canal bridges 
were at first high bridges and the boats passed 
underneath. After that came turn bridges, one at 
every street. The two rivers made bridges nec- 
essary and there were five tail-races, some crossed 
by bridges. There were races on each side of the 
river at the two Eel river dams and one on the 
South Side leading from the Wabash dam. The 
railroads crossed the streams, and on Biddle's 
Island the Wabash road bridged over the street. 
Thus there were at one time twenty-eight bridges 
in the city limits as follows: Four Wabash rail- 
road bridges, six Panhandle railroad bridges, 
eight wagon bridges over the rivers and races 
and ten bridges over the canal. The number 
was reduced by the abandonment of the canal, 
and some of the races, but one or two new 
river wagon bridges have been added and the in- 
terurbans have increased the number. This list 
does not include some of the headgates of the 
races over which teams passed. 



Pastime Sketches 73 

The city is still, however, entitled to the name. 
There are now twenty-three bridges, eight wagon, 
five interurban and eight steam railroad, not count- 
ing any of the bridges over the races. So that the 
number is not materially reduced. The canal, pass- 
ing as it did through the heart of the city, made 
the bridge question a serious one. The high 
bridges were the first to be adopted. After them 
came turn bridges, and, at Market street a re- 
markable bridge that was lifted high in the air 
by weights and which often refused to come down. 
It finally broke in two under a heavy load and was 
cast aside. The frequent passage of canal boats 
seriously interfered with travel and there was a 
hurrying to get over when a bridge was about to 
be' turned. The bridges were popular with April 
1st jokers and the citizen who forgot the day 
and made a dive for a pocketbook only to find it 
nailed down was greeted with a shout from a crowd 
gathered nearby, apparently discussing politics. 

The bridge committee was one of the most im- 
portant of the city council, second in importance 
only to that of streets, and Logansport was justly 
entitled to the name, "The City of Bridges." The 
river wagon bridges were wooden, as were also 
the railroad bridges. The wagon bridges were 
generally covered, without foot walks, and very 
dark on a dark night. Some of them were built 
as toll bridges and had massive gates to be closed 
when the toll collector retired for the night. The 
cows, which had the freedom of the city, found the 
covered bridges a safe retreat in stormy weather, 
at night time, and the late pedestrian returning 
from lodge at midnight often came in sudden con- 
tact with a sleeping occupant of the bridge. 



74 Pastime Sketches 

The bridge history of Logansport is but an 
incident in the development and growth of the 
city and is hardly worth recording. However, 
it may find a place in some scrapbook kept to show 
the progress of the city from its village days up to 
the time it became a city of iron bridges, of per- 
manent and graceful construction. It is of little 
importance how many bridges the city had at any 
given period, but it is interesting to note the prog- 
ress from the days of fords, when the rivers were 
at times impassable, up to the present time. The 
first bridges, over Biddle's Island, and later to 
"Browntown," West Side, were made of rough 
hewn timbers but were quite solid and durable. 
Only once, or twice did the bridge "go out" with 
the ice in the February freshets, notwithstanding 
the fact that with the heavy gorges the streets of 
down town Logansport were under water and peo- 
ple paddled about in boats. It was quite custom- 
ary to gather on the river banks at time of high 
water, "to see the bridge go out" but, thanks to 
the substantial masonry, the spectators were usu- 
ally disappointed. 

Probably the first bridge of all to be built was 
the wooden bridge over Eel river at Third street. 
That is preserved in a picture by Wils Berry of 
the 46th Ind. crossing it in Civil war times. 

The development of the country has brought 
about the construction of numerous ditches, ice 
and snow do not accumulate in dense forests to be 
released steadily by a spring thaw, and the days 
of big freshets have gone by. Bridge building is 
more of an art also and the scene of a bridge "go- 
ing out" is not likely to be witnessed by future 
generations. 



Pastime Sketches 75 

What is claimed to be the oldest handbill in 
the country was donated to the Historical Society 
yesterday by Mrs. C. W. Graves. It was among 
the papers of her father, Williamson Wright, and is 
faded and discolored with age. It announces the 
opening of a land agency in 1835 for the handling 
of newly opened lands. It reads as follows : 
Land Agency. 

In Indiana, Illinois and Michigan. 

The subscriber offers his services to the public 
as an agent for the purchase and sale of any lands 
in the states of Indiana, Illinois or the Territory 
of Michigan. 

There will be sold by the United States, during 
the coming summer or autumn upwards of one 
hundred townships of lands in the state of Indi- 
ana, and as many townships in Michigan ; all of 
which have lately been purchased of the Potta- 
watomie Indians. By an act of the last legislature 
the territory lying within the state of Indiana was 
divided into fourteen counties — so that purchasers 
may easily determine very near at what place the 
county seats will be situated and govern their pur- 
chases accordingly. 

The counties in which the land now to be sold 
is situated are on and near the Wabash and Erie 
canal, and on or near the Michigan road. Specu- 
lators and purchasers in general never had a fairer 
opportunity for profitable investment than is now 
presented in the state of Indiana, and I can safely 
affirm that the inducements west of Lake Michigan 
are equally attractive. I will at all times purchase 
military lands in Illinois and Missouri or attend 
and have them sold on the most favorable terms. 

The state of Indiana now offers for sale lands 



76 Pastime Sketches 

situated on its canal and on the Michigan road, 
which I will purchase for those who may desire 
it on the most reasonable terms. 

I will also sell improved or other lands for those 
desirous of selling and do every act which is usu- 
ally done by land agents. 

Information will be willingly given to persons 
at a distance by addressing the subscriber post- 
paid. Logansport, Indiana. 

The subscriber being an attorney at law will 
attend to the collection of claims in any part of 
the state of Indiana. 

JOHN W. WRIGHT. 

Logansport, April 1st, 1835. 

References : Hon. John Tipton, U. S. Senator ; 
Gen. N. D. Grover, Hon. David Irven, Green Bay, 
Michigan Territory; Dr. George Turner, Mackinaw, 
M. T. ; Hon. T. Ewing, U. S. Senator, Lancaster, 
Ohio; Hon. W. W. Irven, Lancaster, Ohio; Mr. 
Jacob Reese, Esq., Philadelphia, Pa.; Mr. Wilkins 
McNaar, Pittsburg, Pa. 



Pastime Sketches 77 



CHAPTER XVI. 

A LETTER OF THE EARLY DAYS. 

There are probably dozens of old letters lying 
around that give much insight into the early times, 
before the days of postage stamps. The letters 
were folded and sealed with sealing wax then and 
envelopes were unknown. Out of a bunch of old 
letters, some from Judge Biddle, W. Z. Stuart, U. S. 
Senator John Tipton and others the following was 
picked out because of the information it contains, 
and because it was the oldest in the collection, 
owned by Mrs. C. W. Graves. It is addressed to 
"W. W. Wright, Atty. & Counsellor at Law, Lo- 
gansport, Indiana." The postage is marked "Paid 
18 3-4 cents." The writer was not particularly 
adept at spelling and his capitalization was not 
of the most approved style, but the letter contains 
much that is interesting. It reads : 

Hillsborough, Highland Co., Ohio, 

September 21, 1836. 

Dear Sir: I take the privilige of droping a few 
lines to you respecting som property that I Baught 
in and near Logansport in July last you will rico- 
lect an man by the name of tucker whoe left a 
lot in your care and in case it could be Sold for 
five houndred dollars to let me know it, the lot was 
baught of E. Johns and lays on Broadway Joining 
Lawyer Chas there is Twenty feeat Seven inches 



78 Pastime Sketches 

and a half in front and fifty feeat back. The Land 
that I baught Lays in Town 28 and Section 21 on 
the Michigan Road, eight miles from Logansport 
the 8 mile Post Stands in it. Demos's Tavern is 
in sight of it. and I am told that there is a little 
Town a bout to be or is Laydoff close by it, There 
is one houndred and fifty Seven acres in the Track. 
Now Sir I wish you To take chardge of this prop- 
erty and See what it can be Sold for. I wish you 
to write to me and let me know what the Prospect 
of Logan is at this time and weather Property has 
advanced sens July and if so weather I had better 
hold on a while Longer I ask five houndred for 
the lot and one thousand for the land. I wish you 
to let me know weather you think it would bring 
it at this time or not and weather you think it 
will be worth more next year if there is any tax 
accurs on the land you will let me know it, as thay 
are a bout to pave the Streats I expect the lots will 
be taxed at what ever trobble you are at I will pay 
you for it. Pleas let me know when thay expect 
to let the water in the canal and how thay come 
on Paveing the Streats, the Bridge the Courthouse 
&c and when these things are done weather you 
don't think property will be worth more than it is at 
this time, if you know eny thing about the little 
town that is a bout to be laid off seven or eight 
miles north of Logan on the Michigan Road Pleas 
let me Know it I remember Seeing the Place where 
I am told it is laid off theres Tavern on one Side 
of the Road and a little Store on the other, if Sutch 
is the case my land will of corse be worth more 
as it is some where near in Sight of it, Mr. De- 
moss whoe Joins my Land told me that he had 
bin ofered 9 dollars per acre for his cash in hand. 



Pastime Sketches 79 

if you can find percheser for mine whoe will give 
8 dollars per acre you will let me know it and if i 
sell it this fall I will give you at least fifty dollars 
for your Trobble if you can git $9 per acre I of 
corse will give you more. I think Proberbable that 
Second handed Land will be more apt to Sell now 
then before the Treshure order when you write 
inform me weather Fullweller baught a lot in Lo- 
gan and weather Johnson has Sold the little corner 
on Boardway and canal and if so for how mutch, 
N. B. I have seean your old Skoole mates Wood- 
row Smith Trimble & galoway thay ware all glad 
to hear from you and that you was doing well, I 
told them that you was thay speak in very high 

terms of you I believe that I will trobble you 

nomore this time write to me as soon as conven- 
yent. 

"Very Respectfully yours, 

"GEORGE W. TUCKER." 



80 Pastime Sketches 



CHAPTER XVII. 

EARLY INDIAN BATTLE. 

Not every county in Indiana is the proud pos- 
sessor of a battlefield where actual war was waged. 
Nor can many lay claim to the honor of an invas- 
ion by an English army. "The mouth of Eel," as 
the point where Logansport now stands, was first 
called, is a historic spot. A few miles above the 
mouth the battle of Oldtown was fought. Sweep- 
ing past it in narrow dugouts a Britsh army made 
the trip to Vincennes. 

In 1778 Lieutenant-Governor Henry Hamilton, 
the British commander at Detroit, collected an 
army consisting of thirty regulars, fifty French vol- 
unteers and four hundred Indians and with this 
force passed down the Wabash river and took pos- 
session of Post Vincennes. The trip was made in 
canoes, over the portage at Ft. Wayne, and through 
Logansport, which of course, at that time, had no 
place on the map. 

The battle referred to was fought by other 
troops, many years later, on the Eel River, six 
miles east of the mouth, and relics are still plowed 
up by the farmers who own the land. 

On the first of August, 1791, Brigadier-General 
James Wilkinson at the head of about five hun- 
dred and twenty-five men moved from Ft. Wash- 
ington at Cincinnati and directed his march toward 
the Indian village at Ke-na-pa-com-a-qua on the 
north bank of Eel river at a point six miles above 



Pastime Sketches 81 

its confluence with the Wabash river. There were 
no roads of course and the march was through vir- 
gin forest. Wabash river was crossed four miles 
above Logansport. After crossing the river the 
troops found a continued thicket of bramble, jack- 
oaks and shrubs of different kinds. As the expe- 
dition approached Eel river the Indians took alarm 
and fled, six warriors, and in the confusion, two 
squaws and a child were killed. Thirty-four pris- 
oners were taken and one captive was released. 
The attacking troops had two men killed and one 
wounded. The town was found scattered along 
Eel river for fully three miles. 

General Wilkinson destroyed the town and 
moved westward toward the Tippecanoe river, en- 
camping the next night six miles west of the Indi- 
an village, probably a short distance north of the 
present site of Logansport. The remainder of the 
trip was through bog after bog, and at the close 
of the fourth day two hundred and seventy horses 
were found lame and the men much disheartened. 
The troops reached the Rapids of the Ohio on the 
21st of August much demoralized, after a march of 
four hundred and fifty-one miles. 

The scene of this battle is unmarked, very few 
of those living in the neighborhood know it, yet 
the facts are interesting. 

Senator Will W'ood's bill, appropriating $12,- 
500 for the erection of a monument on Tippecanoe 
Battle Ground recently passed the Indiana Senate 
by a vote of 72 to 5. 

Ninety-six years ago at Tippecanoe, the senti- 
nel, Stephen Mars, fired the first shot in the war 
of 1812. The great chief, Tecumseh, was at that 
time seeking to form a confederation of the Indi- 



82 Pastime Sketches 

ans with the ostensible purpose of retaining for 
the Indians their hunting-grounds. The battle of 
Tippecanoe was the result. 

Every Indian in the battle of Tippecanoe was 
armed with a rifle, with a scalping knife, with a 
tomahawk and most of them with a spear. 

The battle as is well known was fought largely 
bv Indianians. 

General William Henry Harrison was in com- 
mand of the Americans and his victory made him 
President of the United States later, in the famous 
campaign of "Tippecanoe and Tyler, too." 

In General Harrison's army were 250 regulars, 
60 Kentuckians and 600 Indianians. Thirty-seven 
were killed, 161 wounded, of whom twenty-five died 
afterward. The gallantry of this body of men was 
recognized by President Madison, in a message to 
Congress. It became the "unwritten law" in Indi- 
ana to name counties organized in the State after 
heroes of that battle. Had the Indians prevailed 
the success of the Americans in the war of 1812 
might have been jeopardized. Tecumseh is regard- 
ed by many as the greatest Indian leader that ever 
lived. Had he succeeded in that battle he would 
undoubtedly have been a formidable ally of Eng- 
land in the war that followed with the United 
States. 

In the battle Captain Spencer's company occu- 
pied the point at the south end of the battlefield. 
When Spencer fell and his first lieutenant fell Tip- 
ton, who was an ensign, took charge of the com- 
pany. General Harrison rode down the point and 
asked of the young ensign: 
"Where is your captain?" 

"Dead, sir," replied the young ensign. 



Pastime Sketches 83 

"Where is your lieutenant ?" 

"He is also dead, sir." 
"Who is in command of this company?" 

"I am, sir," replied the young ensign. 

"Hold your own, my brave boy!" said Gen- 
eral Harrison, "and I will send you reinforcements." 

General Tipton, as he afterwards became, lived 
in Logansport. 

In 1829 he rode all night on horseback to Craw- 
fordsville, where the land office was located and 
bought the Tippecanoe battlefield. In 1831 Tipton 
became United States Senator. He died in 1839 
at the age of 53. 

On December 28, 1833, a joint resolution was 
passed by the Indiana legislature requesting the 
governor to open negotiations for the cession of 
the land on which the battle of Tippecanoe was 
fought in order that it might be consecrated to 
the memory of the men who fell in the fight with 
the Indians. 

In compliance with that resolution, on the first 
day of November, 1834, Abel C. Pepper, of Ohio 
county, who was then an Indian agent and who 
was afterward a member of the constitutional con- 
vention of 1850, carried a letter from Governor No- 
ble to General Tipton at his home in Logansport. 
Miss Matilda Tipton, the granddaughter of Gen- 
eral Tipton, in later years, at Logansport, 
searched among the general's papers and at the 
bottom of his box neatly folded and tied with a 
faded red tape, was the letter of Governor Noble 
and the answer of General Tipton, by which he 
agreed to transfer the grounds on which the bat- 
tle of Tippecanoe was fought, to the state of Indi- 
ana. 



84 Pastime Sketches 

The letter from Governor Noble to General 
Tipton follows : 

Indianapolis, November 1, 1834. 
The Hon. John Tipton : 

Sir — The last legislature of our state by a joint 
resolution made it the duty of the governor to 
ascertain the terms on which you would surrender 
the ground on which was fought the memorable 
battle of Tippecanoe. With the events of that 
struggle honorable mention has been frequently 
made of your name, of your fellow officers and sol- 
diers who survived it, by the brave general who 
commanded, as well as those who were slain, and 
knowing your high estimate of the courage and 
private virtues of your companions who fell and 
whose remains render that a sacred spot, I need say 
but little to induce you to appreciate the motive 
that prompts the measure, that of a just regard for 
the memory of the lamented dead. Allow me to 
refer you to the resolution and request an answer 
as early as your convenience will permit. I am, 
sir, with great esteem, your obedient servant, 

N. NOBLE. 

Resolution to be found in last volume of our 
laws. 

Following is the reply of General Tipton to Gov- 
ernor Noble : 

Falls of the Wabash, November 7, 1834. 
His Excellency, N. Noble: 

Sir — I have the honor to acknowledge the re- 
ceipt of your favor of the first of this month, in- 
forming me that, by a resolution of the last legisla- 
ture, it was made the duty of the governor to as- 
certain upon what terms I would surrender to the 



Pastime Sketches 85 

state the ground on which was fought the memor- 
able battle of Tippecanoe, and, in reply, I have to 
inform you that, in purchasing the battleground, 
I was actuated by no other motive than that of 
possessing it, in order to preserve the bones of my 
companions in arms who fell there, and that it 
will afford me great pleasure to convey the battle- 
ground to the state of Indiana, free of any charge, 
whenever it is signified to me the state wishes it 
so conveyed for that purpose. 

JOHN TIPTON. 

This communication of General Tipton was 
transmitted to the legislature by Governor Noble, 
and on February 7, 1835, the legislature passed a 
joint resolution resolving among other things that 
"his excellency be, and he is hereby authorized to 
receive from the Hon. John Tipton a deed of con- 
veyance, in fee simple, of the Tippecanoe battle- 
ground, to and in the name of the State of Indiana. 
That the governor, on receiving the conveyance 
aforesaid, shall, by himself, or a proper subagQnt 
to be by him appointed, take charge of the said 
battleground, and, if he shall deem it expedient, 
have the same inclosed with a suitable fence, and 
that he make report of the proceedings in the prem- 
ises to the next general assembly, as also his views 
and opinions relative to the erection of a suitable 
monument or memorial on said battleground/' 

While the battleground became a State park 
under the gift of General Tipton many years ago 
no monument of any magnitude has ever been 
erected, though at the last session of Congress and 
the Indiana legislature proper appropriations were 
made for that purpose. 



86 Pastime Sketches 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

AN EARLY PAINTER. 

The banks of the Wabash, made famous in song, 
produced a painter who deserves a high place in 
the history of art in Indiana. Unfortunately many 
of his paintings have been lost, and while the state 
library may not obtain many of them, some effort 
should be made to catalogue those remaining. 

A search of the Wabash valley for works of the 
early artist, George Winter, discloses the fact that 
many of his valuable paintings have disappeared. 
This is notably true of his paintings of the battle 
of Tippecanoe. This was his greatest work and, 
strange to say, it was the first to disappear. In a 
private letter now in possession of the Wisconsin 
Historical Society, Winter speaks of six different 
pictures of the Tippecanoe battle ground and of 
two of these covering 152 square feet each. All, 
he says, were taken from different points of view 
and taken together conveyed one idea of the bat- 
tle ground. These pictures were painted in 1840 
while Winter lived at Logansport, and his idea was 
suggested by the famous Harrison campaign of 
that year. 

The largest collection of Winter pictures in 
existence is owned by his daughter, Mrs. C. G. 
Ball, of Lafayette. There are nine oil paintings 
and thirty-eight water colors in the collection. 
Four of the oil canvasses are covered with heads 



Pastime Sketches 87 

of Indians, representing thirty-three Pottawatomie 
chiefs and squaws. There is a life-size head of 
Francis Godfroy, the last of the Miami chiefs, and 
another of Joseph Barron, the famous interpreter, 
who served General Harrison for eighteen years 
and who aided General Tipton and A. C. Pepper in 
their negotiations with the Indians. There are 
numerous water colors perhaps one foot square. 
Most o'f them are portraits with landscape back- 
grounds. They are color studies of the Indian 
costumes of the day made up largely of finery 
bought from the early traders. Two of these are of 
Frances Slocum, the white captive, whose family 
lived at Wilkes-Barre, and who was captured and 
lived many years with the Indians. 

Besides this collection there are numerous por- 
traits at Lafayette, as well as other oil and water 
colors. Among the best portraits are those of God- 
love S. Orth. John Purdue, founder of the college; 
WilliaYn Digby, who laid out Lafayette ; Robert S. 
Stockwell, Judge Cyrus Ball, Lawrence B. Stock- 
ton, Mrs. George N. Stockton, Mrs. Thomas Under- 
wood, Mrs. R. M. O'Ferrell, Dr. R. M. O'Farrell, 
Mrs. John Cofrroth, James Spears, Cornelius Ball, 
Edward Reynolds, Sr., Dr. Denning, C. H. Rose and 
Mrs. Rogers. There are many more portraits at 
Lafayette and besides quite a collection of Indian 
portraits and landscape scenes owned by those 
same citizens and others. The landscapes are of 
scenes on the Wabash, Tippecanoe, Eel and Mis- 
sissinewa rivers. 

The early residents of Logansport were liberal 
patrons of Winter's art. The late Judge Biddle had 
a collection of thirty water colors and several oil 
paintings, now owned by Mrs. Eva Peters Reynolds, 



88 Pastime Sketches 

his niece. In the Masonic temple is a copy of a 
life-size portrait of Gen. George Tipton, a copy of 
one of Winter's portraits. Judge Maurice Win- 
field is the owner of two of the oil paintings, scenes 
on the Wabash, and Miss Tillie Tipton, grand- 
daughter of General Tipton, also has two. Former 
United States Senator Graham N. Fitch left five of 
the oil paintings to his heirs, and three of these 
are owned by Horace Coleman, a grandson, who 
occupies the Fitch homestead. Williamson Wright, 
who was one of the early residents, left six oil 
paintings, scenes on the Wabash, to his heirs. Mrs. 
S. B. Boyer has a portrait of her father, Alex. 
Goodwin, E. S. Rice, president of the First Na- 
tional Bank, has two of the oil paintings ; Mrs. 
Paul Taber has one, Henry Tucker has two, and 
there are several more in Logansport including 
those owned by Walter Osmer, Alvin Higgins, 
D. D. Dykeman, Henry Tucker and others. John 
H. Elam, of Indianapolis, has one, and a number 
are owned by persons in Peru. 

George Winter, in 1839, visited Dead Man's vil- 
lage, the Indian settlement on the Mississinewa 
river, near Peru, to make a portrait of Frances 
Slocum, the white girl stolen from her home in 
Pennsylvania, when she was three years old. He 
also made sketches of her surroundings from sev- 
eral points of view, painting the home and the land- 
scape of the valley. When Frances Slocum thought 
she was dying she disclosed to Col. G. W. Ewing, 
of Fort Wayne, her white origin and early his- 
tory. She, however, lived for several vears, dying 
in 1847. 

The Slocum family, after visiting her and trv- 
ing to persuade her to return to her people, sent 



Pastime Sketches 89 

a request to Mr. Winter to visit her and obtain a 
portrait for them. Mr. Winter kept a journal of 
his visit and afterward wrote an article for the 
Philadelphia Press, describing his visit. His jour- 
nal is still in existence and is a valuable addition 
to the Indian history of Indiana, as are also his 
many paintings. 

Writing of the paintings after the election, he 
said : 

"Although I have been defeated in getting these 
views before the public eye at the time when po- 
litical excitement ran high, yet I have often in- 
dulged the hope that Harrison would be elected, 
and that an interest would still be felt. I think if 
I could get these pictures to Cincinnati some time 
before the general sets out for the White House 
that it would be a favorable time to exhibit them. 
I have also thought it would be a propitious time, 
too, either at the inauguration or during the spring 
to exhibit them at Washington." 

Nothing ever came of these plans and the pic- 
tures seem to have been lost in part. One of them 
was presented to the state, and when last recalled 
was stowed away in a corner of the old State House, 
unframed and with canvas broken and lopping 
over. This was shortly before the old Capitol was 
torn down and the picture was then in a closet off 
the Supreme Court chamber. It was never seen 
after the contents of the old Capitol were removed. 
Quite recently one of the views of the Tippecanoe 
battle ground was discovered and retouched for 
presentation to the State library. 

In a history of early Indiana art. Winter would 
take a prominent place. Jacob Cox, of Indianap- 
olis, was his contemporary while Charles A. Les- 



90 Pastime Sketches 

neur and others of the New Harmony settlement 
antedate him. He was born at Portsea, England, 
in 1810, and after a preliminary course of private 
instruction went to London, entered the Royal 
Academy and lived the life of an artist for four 
years. When twenty years of age he came to New 
York and seven years later, in 1837, to Logansport. 

The remainder of his life was spent in the Wa- 
bash valley. In 1840 he was married to Miss Mary 
Squier, of New Carlisle, O., and two children sur- 
vive him — George Winter, Eureka, Cal., and Mrs. 
C. Gordon Ball, of Lafayette, Ind. Mr. Winter 
remained in Logansport until 1850, when he moved 
to Lafayette. He went to California in 1873 and 
returned to Lafayette in 1876, dying a short time 
afterward while attending an entertainment at the 
opera house in that city. 

During the entire time Mr. Winter supported 
himself by his brush, a difficult task in a new coun- 
try having little appreciation of art. When he 
came to Logansport in 1837, to use his own words, 
"He was allured to Indiana to be present at the 
councils held by Col. A. C. Pepper at the village 
of Kee-waw-nay in regard to the Pottawatomie im- 
migration west of the Mississippi." He had an ar- 
tist's interest in the red man .of the west, and 
many of his paintings are of famous Pottawatomie 
and Miami chiefs. 



Pastime Sketches 91 



CHAPTER XIX. 

A TRIP ON THE CANAL. 

There is a somewhat rare work in the Horace 
P. Biddle collection at the city library. It is en- 
titled, "The Wabash, or Adventures of an Eng- 
lish Gentleman's Family in the Interior of Amer- 
ica." It was published in London in 1855 by 
"Hurst and Blackett, Publishers, 13 Great Marl- 
borough street," and is in two volumes. The au- 
thor is "J. Richard Beste, Esq., of London." 

With the progress we have made it is hard to 
realize that an Englishman came to this part of 
the country a little over fifty years ago and wrote 
of us much as Henry M. Stanley and Paul du 
Chaillu wrote of "Darkest Africa" in more recent 
years. 

The frontispiece in this book is a picture of 
Terre Haute, Indiana, and it is a rather remarkable 
production in that it shows Terre Haute as con- 
sisting of five house, six people and two dogs. The 
artist seems to have ha,d an Englishman's fondness 
for dogs, as they occupy the foreground of the pic- 
ture. Two churches or school houses appear in 
the background. 

Mr. Beste made his trip to Terre Haute in a 
spirit of adventure, arriving at New York on a 
sailing vessel and finding his way westward as best 
he could. He passed through Indianapolis over 
the National road, in a stage coach, and stopped at 



92 Pastime Sketches 

the Prairie House in Terre Haute. Death in his 
family, and other discouragements led him to re- 
turn soon and he selected the canal route by way 
of Logansport as better than the one he had fol- 
lowed in his course westward. This involved a ca- 
nal boat ride from Terre Haute to Toledo, Ohio, 
a steamboat trip on Lake Erie from Toledo to Buf- 
falo, railroad transportation from Buffalo to Al- 
bany and another steamboat ride down the Hud- 
son from Albany to New York city. The time 
consumed on this journey was something less than 
a month and no better realization of the great prog- 
ress of the country can be arrived at than by com- 
parison of this with the present method of getting 
to New York city. Many can recall the local mer- 
chants who went to New York to buy goods a 
few years ago, and thought it something to be proud 
of. It meant much hardship then, the trip took 
much time, and was very expensive, and it is not to 
be wondered at that the merchant advertised his 
special bargains in New York goods, selected by 
himself, "in person," for the particular wants of his 
customers. 

Mr. Beste's book was interesting to me and 
might be to others, and so I have called attention 
to it. There is not much of value in it, in a gen- 
eral way, but it gives an accurate description of 
travel on a canal boat in early times. 

When the Beste party was ready to leave Terre 
Haute it was delayed by a break in the canal and 
learned that this was of frequent occurrence. A 
week of waiting followed. Telegrams were sent 
to friends and the author goes into raptures, say- 
ing, "Let Europe and England take shame to itself 
that the electric telegraph, as yet. exists not every- 



Pastime Sketches 93 

where for the convenience of everybody. In these 
remote and infant communities, it is in hourly use 
in every village. The greatest and smallest com- 
mercial transactions are carried on by its means." 
Mr. Beste decided "that Indianapolis and Terre 
Haute are not decaying, but are busy, rising, thriv- 
ing towns." The population of Indianapolis, he 
says, was 2,692 in 1840 and in 1850 had risen to 
8,034. Terre Haute in the same period rose from 
2*000 to 4,051. 

The journey by canal to Toledo was not par- 
ticularly exciting. The boat made from four to 
five miles an hour and stops were frequent. It was 
an ordinary canal boat, too well remembered to re- 
quire description. The view, the writer says, "was 
naught," thick woods with partial clearings. "Af- 
ter tea," says the writer, "we all began a most 
murderous ' attack upon the mosquitoes that 
swarmed our berths in expectation of feasting upon 
us as soon as we should go to bed. Those upon 
which we made war were soon replaced by others 
and the more we killed the more they seemed to 
come to be killed. We soon resigned ourselves to 
pass a sleepless night. Tormented by the mosqui- 
toes, by heat and by thirst our onward course was 
very wearying." 

At Lafayette was to be a "change of cars" and 
the writer says, "We little knew what was in store 
for us. We spent some time catching mosquitoes 
which were ten times worse than in the other boat." 
G. Davis was captain of this boat and W. H. Noble 
was agent at Lafayette. The captain refused to 
recognize the rights of Mr. Beste to the quarters 
he had paid for and a convention of passengers 
finallv settled the matter in his favor. Mr. Beste 



94 Pastime Sketches 

was evidently not delighted with his trip for he 
says: "If for some reason I linger yet upon this 
canal, let it be remembered that those whose prop- 
erty is here forcibly invested, have, probably, never 
before heard from a countryman who had traveled 
with his family from the Ohio river to Lake Erie 
by this ditch ; and that it is unlikely any one will 
ever do so again." 

The morning ablutions had to be performed in 
turn. "Every third person had to dip the jug into 
the canal for fresh water." Then came the break- 
fast which was "very bad indeed," along the route 
were many villagers and the shops had signs, "York 
Fixings and Yankee Notions." 

"The whole party was very much annoyed the 
next day by a passenger who stood on the roof, 
or upper deck of the boat with a fowling piece in 
hand and constantly fired at birds that flew across 
the canal. The detonation overhead was unpleas- 
ant, but the man was a friend of the surly animal 
who commanded the boat, and remonstrance was 
felt to be useless." 

Mr. Beste did not find anything enjoyable in 
his trip. His last entry in his journal is as amus- 
ing as any paragraph in his book. It was dated 
Saturday and reads : "At ten o'clock this morn- 
ing, our hateful boat — for the wretched fare and 
accommodation on which I had paid about forty- 
five dollars a head, or about double the charge per 
day at the Prairie House, Terre Haute — was drawn 
up beside a crowded wharf at Toledo. My family 
had found some degree of fellowship in that of Miss 
Ward and her children ; and had been amused by 
the manners and the squabbles of the other female 
passengers. We left the boat, thankful to the Al- 



Pastime Sketches 95 

mighty that we had been able to traverse between 
three and four hundred miles of an infected dis- 
trict without further illness, and rejoiced to find 
ourselves once more in a comparatively civilized 
region. We went into the hotel at Toledo and 
saw a bell-rope hanging in the ladies' sitting-room. 
Was not this evidence of civilization, we had not 
seen such a luxury since we left Cincinnati. Here 
indeed it was a novelty ; and the use of it was 
not known to every one, as was testified by the 
following notice written, in large letters on a card, 
and sewn on to the handle of the bell pull : "Pull 
straight down once, then let go suddenly." 



96 Pastime Sketches 



CHAPTER XX. 

A STORY OF PROGRESS. 

Less than seventy years ago, within the mem- 
ory of many now living, the Indian roamed the 
forests about the present site of Logansport and 
camped upon the banks of the Eel and Wabash. 
Picture in your fancy Logansport in 1838, a little 
village with a log hotel, log stores, a log postoffice 
and a log jail. There were perhaps a hundred and 
forty or fifty log and frame houses, most of them 
below Fifth street. The log postoffice stood just 
above the present Barnett hotel, the old Semin- 
ary faced Market street, it was of brick, and the 
old jail was on the present site. Scattered about 
were native forest trees and the streets were paved 
with mud several inches deep. 

Workmen are now tearing down the old Hig- 
gins house on Market between Fifth and Sixth 
streets to make room for a modern flat. In those 
days the canal ran along the east side of the town, 
now Fifth street, and there were few houses east 
of it. Market street east of the canal was a coun- 
try road cut through the forest and ancient oaks 
adorned the hill between Sixth and Eighth streets. 
The original plat of Logansport ran to below Sixth 
street and the lots above were in the first addition 
to the tOAvn, made by John Tipton. The addition 
was laid out August 3rd, 1832, but was not im- 
proved rapidly. In 1838 there were few houses east 



Pastime Sketches 97 

of Fifth street, the Higgins house being one of 
them. The lot is number 46 in the addition. It 
was on the hill as it now stands and the street in 
front of it was the country road. John Tipton sold 
the lot to Cyrus Taber, he sold to Henry Chase. 
Philo S. Patterson appears as one of the owners, 
1837. Captain Alvin W. Higgins appears as own- 
er of the lot by purchase in 1857. As far as it 
is possible to learn the house was built in 1833, or 
1834. It was constructed by a millwright who 
was skilled only in that sort of architecture and 
the foundation is of double strength and the timbers 
are heavy wrought. There is nothing to show that 
it was ever intended for a mill, or was used as such 
but the style of architecture suggests that that may 
have been intended. William Chase appears as the 
grantor in the deed to Capt. Higgins in 1857. 

East of the canal a few houses were scattered 
in the woods. The lot of the present Broadway 
Alethodist church was in timber. Back of it was 
the home of a blacksmith named Hines and near 
it. toward North street, was the home of a car- 
penter named Ward, father of Edward Ward. 
"Jimmy" Rogers had a house a few feet west of the 
present Broadway Presbyterian church. West of 
the canal the father of Charles B. Laselle had a 
home where the gas office is on Pearl street and 
he afterwards built at the corner of Broadway and 
Pearl. The old Seminary, of brick, stood facing 
Market street where Snider's queensware store 
stands, or a little west of it, perhaps later, and 
the Methodist church stood on the alley east side 
of Sixth street, between Broadway and North 
streets. The Presbyterian church still standing 
back of the Lewis store on Broadway below Sixth, 



98 Pastime Sketches 

and perhaps one or two other houses composed the 
town ahove the canal for many years. George C. 
Walker built at the corner of Ninth and Broadway, 
where the Sisters school stands later and Col. I. 
N. Partridge built where now is the residence of 
J. T. McNary. Thus the town grew. It does not 
require much flight of the imagination to picture 
this hill of forest trees with country roads for 
streets and a log or frame house here and there. 

William Douglass, still living, brought Captain 
Higgins to Logansport with an ox team. He found 
him as a passenger at the "Forks of the Wabash" 
two miles below Huntington on his return from 
a trip to Fort Wayne and offered him the best to 
be had in those days in the way of transportation. 
Capt. Higgins engaged in business in Logansport. 
held office and died several years ago. He acquired 
his military title under General Tipton. When the 
treaty was made with the Pottawatomie Indians, 
Chauncey Carter and Dr. Graham N. Fitch were ap- 
pointed to move some of them west to their new 
reservation in Kansas. Capt. Higgins went along 
with a squad of men of which he was made cap- 
tain. Some of them went in wagons, some on 
horseback and some on foot. The Indians were 
brought from an Indian village in Fulton county 
and were in camp on the North Side, on Horney 
Creek, where the Custer house now stands. The 
chiefs were in irons under guard and the undertak- 
ing was not a particularly safe one. The Cass 
county contingent returned without loss of life and 
many of them lived to tell the story to their grand- 
children. 

The first engine for the first railroad was unload- 
ed on the west bank of the canal between Broad- 



Pastime Sketches 99 

way and Market streets just below the Higgins 
home in the spring of 1855. Mr. Wat Westlake 
helped to celebrate the opening of the railroad on 
July 4th of that year. The engine had been un- 
loaded from the canal boat and hauled by oxen to 
the track on the Southside, over the wooden 
bridges crosing Biddle's Island, a feat which would 
scarcely be attempted with the engines of the pres- 
ent day. It was ready for its trial trip by July 4th 
and a few citizens were invited to a picnic two miles 
east of town where the Taber prairie now is. The 
trip was made successfully and thus is recorded the 
first railroad excursion out of Logansport. Mr. 
Westlake also remembers the opening of the Chi- 
cago road in 1861. 

The building of the Wabash, road was com- 
pleted through Logansport in 1856. The turn- 
table was at the present junction of the Wabash 
and Panhandle roads while the western extension 
was being built. The road has gone through the 
usual vicissitudes of railroads and has appeared un- 
der various names from time to time as a result of 
consolidations and reorganizations. The following 
corporate history may be of interest for historical 
purposes : 

The Lake Erie, Wabash & St. Louis Railroad 
Co. was incorporated August 31, 1852, and con- 
structed a line through Indiana. On the 25th day of 
June, 1855, this company consolidated with the To- 
ledo & Illinois Railroad Company into the Toledo, 
Wabash and Western Railroad Company. The lat- 
ter road was sold on foreclosure on October 8, 
1858, and the part in Indiana was sold to the Wa- 
bash and Western Railroad Co. On October 24, 
1858, said Wabash and Western consolidated with 



100 Pastime Sketches 

the Toledo and Wabash Railway Company. On 
May 29, 1868, the Toledo and Wabash Railway 
Company consolidated with the Great Western 
Railway Company of 1859, the Quincy & Toledo 
Railroad Co., or the Illinois & Southern Iowa Rail- 
road Company, under the name of the Toledo, Wa- 
bash & Western Railway Company on foreclosure 
proceedings had in Toledo, Ohio. Logansport, In- 
diana, and Danville, Illinois. In 1875 and 1876, the 
Toledo, Wabash & Western Railway Company was 
sold and in January, 1877, became the Wabash Rail- 
way Company by consolidation, there having been 
organized a Wabash railway in each of the states 
of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. 

In November, 1879, the Wabash railway con- 
solidated with the St. Louis, Kanas City and North- 
ern railway and became the Wabash, St. Louis & 
Pacific Railway Company. This road went into 
the hands of a receiver in May, 1884, and was sold 
at receiver's sale in Chicago, May 21, 1889, the 
part in Indiana to the Wabash Eastern Railway 
Company of Indiana. On the 23d day of May, 
1889, the Wabash Eastern Railway Company of 
Missouri, the Toledo & Western Railroad Com- 
pany of Ohio and the Detroit and State Line Wa- 
bash Railroad Company of Michigan were consoli- 
dated into the Wabash Railroad ompany, the pres- 
ent owner and operator of what is known as the 
"Wabash" line. 



Pastime Sketches 101 



CHAPTER XXL 

TWO RARE BOOKS. 

An odd little volume is the property of the Lo- 
gansport Public Library. It would almost go into 
an ordinary envelope were the title, which is the 
biggest part of it, omitted. It is styled "The State 
of Indiana Delineated ; Geographical, Historical, 
Statistical and Commercial, and a Brief View of 
the Internal Improvements, Geology, Education, 
Traveling Routes, etc." It is "Published by J. H. 
Colton, New York, 1838." 

"The State is divided into 88 counties," it says, 
and their population in 1830 is given, also the num- 
ber of square miles in each county. Cass county 
has 415 square miles, and a population of 1,154. Car- 
roll county had about four hundred more and Allen 
county a hundred less than Cass county. Marion 
county, Indianapolis, had only a population of 7 - 
181, while South Bend and St. Joseph county com- 
bined had only 287. This county had the smallest 
population in the State in 1830. 

Cass county had 858 voters in 1837, the entire 
county and city was appraised for taxation at 
$323,126. The personal property assessed brought 
this up to $827,567 and the gross amount of rev- 
enue received from taxation was $1,670.95. How 
much of this belonged to the State as its share is 
not stated, but it is evident that the county officers 
were not living in very princely style. 



102 Pastime Sketches 

Under the caption "Sketches of Each County" 
appears the following: "Cass County — organized in 
1829; contains 415 square miles; bounded north by 
Pulaski and Fulton, east by Miami, south by Car- 
roll county and Miami Reserve, west by Carroll 
and White counties. The face of the country is 
generally level ; it abounds with springs of excel- 
lent water, and the streams are sufficiently rapid 
to furnish great facilities for mills and machinery 
of every description. The principal streams are the 
Wabash and Eel rivers, which unite at Logansport, 
the county seat — a large and flourishing town. The 
Wabash and Erie canal passes through this coun- 
ty-" 

From a table of elevations above the sea it is 

learned that the surface of the Wabash river at 
the mouth of Eel river is 562 feet above tide water 
in the Hudson river. It would thus appear that 
Logansport is in no danger from a tidal wave. 

In the list of towns Amsterdam appears as be- 
ing in Cass county, also Lewisburg, Logansport, 
New Paris and West Logan. 

Another interesting book is entitled, "History 
of Fort Wayne," being an account of the founding 
of the Indian fort of that name after which the city 
was named. It was published in 1868 and is one of 
the Biddle collection. It is probably the most com- 
plete history of the habits and customs of the Indi- 
ans of this locality, ever published. 



Pastime Sketches 103 



CHAPTER XXII. 

THE UNDERGROUND RAILWAY 

One of the questions seriously disturbing the 
country in the early days was the question of slav- 
ery. As is remembered, it ended in a long and bit- 
ter civil war. 

Slavery was an institution that had its origin 
in the greed of man. And the wonder at the present 
time is that it so long existed. Still, there was an 
apparently good side to it, the humane administra- 
tion of it, and sentiment was divided. Naturally, 
Harriet Beecher Stowe depicted the worst side, in 
"Uncle Tom's Cabin." Nevertheless, the system 
was indefensible from any standpoint, but having 
been established, was difficult to destroy. Besides 
this, immense sums were invested in slaves and the 
property rights thus acquired represented millions 
of dollars. 

It is quite possible that the slavery question 
would have been settled amicably but for the Civil 
war, for that war was not, as is generally supposed, 
fought over slavery but over states' rights. The 
emancipation proclamation was an afterthought, a 
blow at the south, in rebellion. 

For many years there was a bitter sectional 
feeling between the north and the south. The 
north was opposed to slavery, and naturally to 
"states' rights," which would give each state the 
power to regulate slavery, as well as all other 



104 Pastime Sketches 

questions of more or less internal concern. It is 
difficult to understand, however, the spirit of hatred 
involved. At the present time the government 
would buy the slaves and free them, and the settle- 
ment of a serious question in this way would be ap- 
plauded on both sides. Somehow at that time the 
spirit of war was in the air. In any event, for 
years before the war, the north was exciting" the 
south by insidious attacks on its system of slav- 
ery. The people of the south were born and raised 
in an atmosphere of slave-ownership. The child 
of the south had no other thought than that slaves, 
ponies, dogs and other animals were property, chat- 
tels. There was no other thought possible, any 
more than it would be possible for the child of to- 
day to be convinced that the ownership of a pony 
was a crime. So that, when the north for a quarter 
of a century kept up an attack on the property 
rights of the south, as the south saw it, there was 
stirred up a feeling akin to that felt toward an in- 
cendiary gang, bent on the wilful destruction of 
property, or toward an organization whose object 
was the secret carrying off of beasts of burden. 

It is not, at all times, possible to justify meth- 
ods. One of the frequent themes of debate in juve- 
nile debating societies is, "Is it right to do wrong 
to accomplish right?" However this may be the 
north irritated the south by an incessant attack on 
the lawful property of the south, as the law read, 
and furthermore, the proceedings of the constitu- 
tional convention of the United States, and the 
constitution itself, indirectly, gave to slave states 
property rights in slaves. 

The north was the aggressor, it spirited away 
the constitutional property of the south and war 



Pastime Sketches 105 

followed. It is sometimes said that "the end justi- 
fies the means." With that view of it the north 
was right. And generally the north accomplished 
one of the greatest reforms of any age, the abolition 
of slavery. No one living, north or south, today 
questions the methods. But it will always remain, 
as one of the complex problems of humanity, that 
the north was morally right, and the south legally 
right, and that, for twenty-five years the north kept 
up an attack on the constitutional property rights 
of the south by methods which would be called 
stealing if brute animals were involved. 

But this incident is one of the peculiar features 
of all reforms, and there have even been religious 
wars to establish universal peace. Whatever the 
means — and there is a saying "all is fair in war" — 
the whole country rejoices, north and south, that 
the blot of slavery was removed by the brave and 
unselfish patriots who sought to make America 
"The Land of the Free." 

Cass county occupied a prominent place in the 
noble fight against the crime of slavery, long be- 
fore its Civil war heroes went forth to face bullets. 
As early as 1835, Jacob Powell, of the present Pow- 
ell family, was familiar with the "Underground 
Railway System" known in Pennsylvania where he 
lived. The system was established in Cass county 
in 1855 or 1856. Jacob Powell was proprietor of 
the Seven-Mile House, a tavern on the Michigan 
road, seven miles north of Logansport. The Four- 
Mile House was conducted by Benjamin L. Camp- 
bell, uncle of B. F. Campbell and Lycurgus Powell 
had a tavern on the north side of Eel river, just 
west of where George Flanegan now lives. The 
house is not now standing. All these were stations 



106 Pastime Sketches 

on the Underground railroad. South of the city, 
there were stations of the Underground Railway 
in Carroll county, and in Howard county. The 
first station in Cass county was at the home of 
Lycurgus Powell, on the northern route, and it is 
unnecessary to say that none of the passengers on 
this railway traveled southward. 

There is not much in the way oi narrative to 
say of this railroad system, not down on any of the 
published maps. There was a method of communi- 
cation between the stations, equal, as far as times 
were concerned, to the present telegraphing. The 
slaves came north in groups of two, or three. They 
were secreted in the daytime, and taken north, to 
the next station at night. There was a station at 
Rochester, and at Plymouth, and some between. 
The slaves eventually reached Canada, where slav- 
ery was unknown, and became free. This was the 
beginning of the fight on slavery, the Civil war 
followed, and the United States began an era of 
prominence and leadership among the nations of 
the earth. 

It must be remembered that this work was a 
work of patriotism. There was no charge made for 
board, or transportation. Once the slave crossed 
the Ohio river he was among friends and was sure 
of aid. There was danger in it, and great secrecy 
had to be preserved, since the slave owners were 
quick to follow the trail of the fugitives. There 
were large rewards offered tempting to officers in 
the North, and the officers of the Underground 
railroad had their share of excitement. 

Thus for several years the opponents of slavery 
waged a warfare against it. 



Pastime Sketches 107 



CHAPTER XXIII. 

SOME MILITARY HISTORY. 

The advent of Memorial day suggests a com- 
pilation of the names of residents of the county who 
figured as officers in the various wars. The names 
of the enlisted men have been gathered by the G. A. 
R. under their respective companies and regiments. 
They will be preserved by the Historical society 
but the list is too long to reproduce in this brief 
article. Many veterans were in other than Indiana 
companies and have moved to the county since the 
war. Some of these do not belong to the G. A. R. 
and there is no way to enroll them. Any omission 
in this list of officers is accidental. 

Cass county had four generals in the Indian 
wars. General John Tipton, General Walter Wilson, 
General Hyacinth Laselle and General Richard 
Crooks. Besides these other officers were, Col. John 
B. Duret, Major Daniel Bell, Capt. Spier Spencer 
and Capt. Cyrus Vigus. 

In the Mexican war Cass county furnished Capt. 
Stanislaus Laselle, First Lieut. Wm. L. Brown, 
Second Lieut. D. M. Dunn, Third Lieut. G. W. 
Blakemore. T. H. Bringhurst was a corporal. J. 
T. Bryer, J. B. Grover, W. W. McMillen, S. L. 
McFadin, W. Obenchain, S. B. Richardson and 
others well known were members of this company, 
the full list being given in Kingman's 1878 Atlas of 
Cass county. The company became part of the 



108 Pastime Sketches 

first regiment, organized at New Albany with James 
P. Drake colonel, C. C. Nave, lieutenant-colonel 
and Henry S. Lane, major. The company spent 
some time in northern Mexico about Monterey, with 
no engagement and returned on the 15th of June, 
1847, by way of the river to Cincinnati and thence 
to Logansport by canal. The company contained 
92 men when mustered in. Three died in Mexico 
and 31 were discharged on account of ill health. 

In the Civil war Cass county furnished a com- 
pany of the original 9th Indiana Volunteers, the 
first that left the state, for service in West Virginia. 
On the 15th of April, 1861, the president called for 
troops. The following day the first commission 
was issued to Robert H. Milroy, as captain of Com- 
pany G. Dudley H. Chase was commissioned cap- 
tain of Company K. The regiment reported for 
duty and was mustered in ten days after the call. 
The regiment left Indianapolis on the 29th of May 
and on the 3rd of June participated in an engage- 
ment at Philippi. The period of enlistment was 
ninety days. Capt. Chase at once re-entered serv- 
ice in the Seventeenth U. S. Infantry and most of 
the others saw later service. 

John Banta was first lieutenant of Co. K of this 
regiment. G. W. Marshall was captain of Co. K, 
as was also D. B. McConnell. May 3rd, 1861, a call 
was made for three years men and another com- 
pany was formed, becoming Company F, of the 
Twentieth Regiment. William L. Brown was 
elected colonel of this regiment and Benjamin H. 
Smith Major, both of Cass county. Thomas H. 
Logan was first lieutenant of this company and E. 
C. Sutherland second lieutenant. T. H. Logan be- 
came captain, Sutherland first lieutenant and Har- 



Pastime Sketches 109 

vey H. Miller, second lieutenant and first lieutenant 
later. Col. Brown was killed on Manassas Plains, 
August 29, 1862. Lieut. Sutherland died in the 
service May 26th, 1864. 

Following - this company the Forty-sixth regi- 
ment was organized with a greater part of the mem- 
bers of companies B, D and I, and a portion of F 
and H from Cass county. The officers were Gra- 
ham N. Fitch, colonel, Newton G. Scott, lieuten- 
ant-colonel, Thomas H. Bringhurst, major, Rich- 
ard P. DeHart, adjutant, D. D. Dykeman, quarter- 
master, Robert Irwin, chaplain, and Horace Cole- 
man, acting surgeon. Major Bringhurst became 
colonel, Capt. A. M. Flory, lieutenant-colonel, Wil- 
liam M. DeHart, major, Thomas H. Howes, quar- 
termaster, William S. Richardson, quartermaster, 
Dr. Asa Coleman, assistant surgeon, and Dr. I. B. 
Washburn, principal surgeon. 

Aaron Flory was captain of Company B, suc- 
ceeded by Frank Swigart when Flory was promot- 
ed and later T. B. Forgy became captain. John T. 
Castle and Matthew Graham were first lieutenants, 
John Arnout, Loren C. Stevens and M. H. Nash 
second lieutenants. 

John Guthrie was captain of Company D, and 
was succeeded by Wm. M. DeHart, C. A. Brownlee 
and A. B. Herman, first lieutenants, A. K. Ewing 
and A. J. Lavenger, second lieutenants. J. W. F. 
Liston was captain of Company I and was suc- 
ceeded by Frederick Fitch. N. B. Liston was sec- 
ond lieutenant. The regiment was mustered in De- 
cember 11th, 1861, and served till the close of the 
war. It was in camp before going to war at Camp 
Logan, where the Vandalia shops are in Logans- 
port. The county also furnished Companies G and 



110 Pastime Sketches 

H of the Seventy-third regiment mustered in Au- 
gust 16th, 1862. The officers of Company G were 
W. L. McConnell, captain, J. A. Westlake, captain, 
G. A. Vaness, first lieutenant, R. J. Connoly, second 
lieutenant, and S. B. Pratt, second lieutenant. The 
officers of Company H were Peter Doyle and D. 
H. Mull, captains, H. S. Murdock, first lieutenant 
and A. M. Callahan, second lieutenant. Company 
K of the Ninety-ninth Regiment, was mainly made 
up in Cass county. Richard P. DeHart was lieuten- 
ant-Colonel, G. W. Julian and George C. Walker 
were captains and Selden P. Stuart first lieuten- 
ant, John C. McGregor, second lieutenant. 

In 1863 the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth 
was organized with Richard P. DeHart colonel and 
Cass county furnished most of Companies B, H 
and K. Alex K. Ewing and John C. Barnett were 
captains, W. C. Mills and Frank E. West, first lieu- 
tenants and Samuel Tilton second. Company H 
had for its captain John T. Powell and Wm. A. 
Harper was first lieutenant. Company K had Frank 
M. Ilinton as captain, George W. Smith, first lieu- 
tenant and Wm. H. Crockett, second lieutenant. 

The One Hundred and Fifty-ninth Regiment 
had for captain of Company C, John C. Scantling, 
who was promoted to major and after the war went 
into the regular army. J. E. Cornwell, Joseph P. 
McKee and John G. Penrose were lieutenants. 

Outside of these organzations Logansport has 
had other officers, some as citizens since that time 
who were residents of other counties or states dur- 
ing the war. J. B. Winters was first lieutenant of 
Co. F, 151st Indiana, and Bruce Davidson was a 
captain of the same company. Robert Cromer was 
also a first lieutenant of the same company. J. C. 



Pastime Sketches 111 

Hadley was a captain of Co. K in the 70th Indiana 
Regiment, General Harrison's. Joseph Craig was 
captain of Co. G, 130th Ind., and George W. Julian, 
captain of Co. K, 99th Indiana. James Finegan 
was captain of Co. C, 53rd Indiana. A. W. Ste- 
vens was captain of Co. K, 142d Indiana. A. C. 
Hadlock was colonel of the First Kentucky Cav- 
alry, W. H. Snider was major of the 94th Ohio. 

Quartermasters in the Civil war were : George 
Horn, 46th Indiana, W. S. Richardson, same, 
George F. West, 9th 111. Cavalry, and M. M. Gor- 
don, 13th Ind. Volunteers. Some of the other offi- 
cers were : 

Captains, Frank Hight, Co. E, 39th Ohio ; John 
C. Nelson, Co. B, 70th Ohio, Hazen's staff; Samuel 
Purviance, Co. E, 9th 111. Cavalry ; Alex. Hardy, 
24th Battery, Ind. Vol. ; Jesse L. Cornwell, Co. C, 
155th Ind. ; James W. Dunn, Co. H, 55th Ind. ; Car- 
ter L. Vigus, 55th Ind. ; W. C. Mills, Co. E, 128th 
Ind. ; J. Y. Ballou, Co. K, 12th Ind. Cavalry ; Peter 
Doyle, Co. H, 73d Ind. (killed at Stone River) ; 
John G. Kessler, Co. A, 2nd Ind. Cavalry ; J. C. 
Brophy, Co. H, 22nd Michigan ; Joseph A. West- 
lake, Co. G, 73d Ind. ; W. L. McConnell, Co. G, 73d 
Ind.; D. M. Bender, Co. I, 47th Ind.; J. T. Powell, 
Co. H, 128th Ind.; Abraham Shafer, Co. B, 36th 
Ind. 

Lieutenants : S. A. Vaughn was first lieutenant 
12th U. S. Heavy Artillery, appointed from the 
State of New York by the President and assigned 
to the second army corps under General Hancock; 
W. H. Crockett, first, Co. K, 128th Ind.; James 
Parker, first, Co. K, U. S. Heavy Artillery; John 
Penrose, second, Co. C, 155th Ind. ; Henry Murdock, 
Co. G, 73d Ind. ; G. A. Vaness, first, Co. G, 73d Ind. ; 



112 Pastime Sketches 

S. B. Pratt, second, Co. G, 73d Ind. ; Frank Smith, 
first, Co. K, 128 Ind. ; H. C. Cushman, first, Co. A, 
94th Ohio; G. F. West, first, 9th 111. Cavalry; A. 
M. Callahan, second, Co. H, 73d Ind.; Samuel Til- 
ton, second, Co. D, 128th Ind. ; B. H. Keith, first, 
Co. G, 128th Ind. ; M. K. Graham, first, Co. B, 46th 
Ind. ; Leroy J. Anderson, first, Co. D, 46th Ind. ; 
Frank M. Rust, second, Co. B, 55th Ind.; A. W. 
Mobley, first, Co. H, 55th Ind.; John G. Meek, 
second, Co. H, 55th Ind. ; G. W. Smith, Co. K, 128th 
Ind.; Joseph P. McKee, first, Co. C. 155th Ind.; 
James A. Wilkinson, second, Co. E, 9th 111. Cav- 
alry; James Justice, first 118th Ind.; J. H. McMil- 
len, second, Co. K, 5th Ind. Cavalry; Robert Nick- 
um, first, 69th Ind.; Austin B. Sargent, first, Co. 
E, 29th Ind. ; W. H. Wilkinson, second, Co. F 12th 
Ind. Cavalry; M. M. Gordon, first, Co. E, 13th Ind. 

The Spanish-American war was fought in the 
spring and summer of 1898. Logansport furnished 
Company M. of the 160th Indiana of which D. M. 
Bender was captain, a captain of the Civil war. 
The other officers were W. C. Dunn, first lieuten- 
ant ; Leroy Fitch, 2d lieutenant. Several Cass 
county men enlisted in the 161st Ind. 

Company 14, U. S. Signal Corps (staff corps) 
was recruited from Indiana at Indianapolis by W. S. 
Wright, first lieutenant. It numbered 54 men, two- 
thirds of whom, under the law, were skilled elec- 
tricians or telegraphers. Logansport men were 
Claude Beebe, James V. C. Nelson, Charles Mas- 
sena, Willard Keiser, S. E. Keiser, Adelbert 
Young, Walter C. Hall and Willard Thomas. 

The corps spent three weeks in drill and pre- 
paration at Washington barracks and was then as- 
signed to the staff of the Seventh Army Corps in 



Pastime Sketches 113 

camp at Jacksonville, Fla., Fitzhugh Lee command- 
ing. Inasmuch as the Signal Corps is a new feature 
of military operation the following sketch is added. 
The signal corps constructed and operated tele- 
graph lines between head quarters within 24 hours 
after an army went into camp. It also communi- 
cated messages by what is known as wigwagging 
and by the heliograph. Wigwagging was the 
method of communicating without wires, flags 
were used in the day time and torches at night. 
On account of the exposed position of the men on 
eminences they were armed with carbines and re- 
volvers and were often protected by a squad. They 
carried also their signal apparatus. Messages were 
received by the aid of powerful field glasses. The 
limit of observation and signaling was about four 
miles. The telegraph code was used as in the 
Western Union offices and railroad offices. The 
flag or torch at night was held upright, a quick 
stroke to the right, or left, made the dots and a 
slow stroke the dashes, and thus the messages 
were spelled out as in ordinary telegraphing. 
When no hill-tops were available the tops of the 
tallest trees were used as stations. The helio- 
graph was an instrument made up ot a tripod, a 
mirror and a shutter. By the quick, or slow use of 
the shutter dashes and dots were made. The mir- 
ror was adjustable and caught the sun's rays and 
reflected them to a certain point where the message 
was to be taken. By the aid of field-glasses mes- 
sages have been sent 50 miles but of course the 
heliograph is only available in the day time and on 
a clear day. These methods of signalling have been 
used very successfully in Europe in time of war 
but the objections are first the difficulty of attract- 



114 Pastime Sketches 

ing the attention of the squad to be communicated 
with, and secondly, the prominence of the signal- 
ling squad which make it an object of interest to 
the sharp-shooters. The signal corps also had 
charge of the balloon train, the balloon being held 
by a cable four or five hundred feet long, and be- 
ing used for a signal station and for observation 
of the enemy's position and number*. 

On account of the separation of the corps into 
small squads for field work there were many non- 
commissioned officers, Nelson, Beebe, Messena, 
Young and both Reisers were sergeants, Thomas 
was a corporal. 

Logansport was and is well represented in the 
regular army and navy. Leroy Fitch rose to the 
rank of Commodore and was retired. He died about 
1876 at his home on the Southside where the St. 
Joseph Hospital stands. Capt. Henry S. Fitch died 
in 1871 and Fred Fitch was captain in the 46th 
Indiana. Graham D. Fitch is a major in the en- 
gineering corps of the regular army and is now sta- 
tioned at Duluth, Minn., on River and Harbor Im- 
provements. Captain Wash Coulson, retired, was 
in the revenue service. E. L. McSheehy is an en- 
sign and is stationed at Manila. Lieutenant S. M. 
Landry is in the revenue service. Morris H. 
Brown was senior lieutenant in the navy and as- 
signed to League Island Navy Yard, Philadelphia, 
when he died. Captain Henry McCrea is in com- 
mand of the battleship Iowa. 

Many of the officers of the Civil war here named 
went through the hardships of prison life at Libby, 
Andersonville, and other prisons. Many have at- 
tained rank in military organizations since the war. 
M. M. Gordon raised the Third Indiana State Mili- 



Pastime Sketches 115 

tia, Loyal Legion, and was appointed surgeon with 
the rank of major. He was afterwards internal 
revenue collector for Northern Indiana and gave up 
the practice of medicine. 

Major William M. DeHart was the first enlisted 
man in the war of the rebellion though the honor 
is claimed by another man because the Logansport 
company was recruited before the President's pro- 
clamation declaring war. The company was 
mustered in and the honor rightfully belongs to 
Major DeHart. The Logansport company also 
claims the honor of being the first company formed 
in the Civil war. 

The Logan Grays, the Cass Blues and perhaps 
other militia companies have been organized in Lo- 
gansport but space does not print further mention 
here. 



116 Pastime Sketches 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

MEN OF NATIONAL, OR STATE FAME. 

In the very nature of things greatness is not 
local. A man is more or less great as his influence, 
power or fame extends beyond the confines of his 
immediate environment. And this influence, power 
or fame must be in the directon of the public wel- 
fare. The bandit becomes notorious only, the in- 
ventor, artist, or author famous and to these we add 
the term great. There are "great" musicians, jur- 
ists physicians, ministers, explorers, scientists and 
so on. In our usual vocabulary of terms, however, 
the "great" man is the product of strife, political, 
civic or military. He must be a leader of men in 
contests among men. The element of leadership 
suffices without other qualification. It is the power 
to organize men and direct the forces in any given 
direction that we call greatness, and so every com- 
munity has its "great" men who may simply excel 
in organization and leadership. But in truth he is 
a more or less great man who acquires laudable 
fame beyond the scenes of hs daily avocation. 

Logansport produced great men in the early 
days. The per cent, was much greater than at 
present. Undoubtedly the hardships of early life 
developed character. The little village on the 
Western frontier was the home of a United States 
Senator, generals in the Indian wars and other offi- 
cers. There were less men to command and more 



Pastime Sketches 117 

officers to command them, but that detracts naught 
from the honor. The titles were bravely won. It 
was an era when men were heroes and danger 
lurked everywhere. Nor were titles home made. 
They were official, in recognition of courage and 
ability. Furthermore history gives to men of Lo- 
gansport the leadership in public and military af- 
fairs in the entire north of the territory, and later 
the northern part of the State. 

From the time of the organization and admis- 
sion of the State of Indiana up to the close of the 
Civil war, less than fifty years, the village, grown 
to a town of five or six thousand inhabitants in the 
early sixties, had known United States Senators, 
Generals, and other military officers as citizens. It 
had two United States Senators, two citizens 
elected to Congress, and its people were leaders 
in affairs of State and Nation. The Indian wars, 
Mexican war and Civil war produced great men, 
or rather brought out the greatness in men, as war 
always does. But Logansport had a remarkable 
share of them. It has now been thirty-two years 
since Logansport furnished a United States Senator, 
D. D. Pratt retiring in 1875. True the growth and 
development of the State has caused the greater 
distribution of these honors, there being nine-two 
populous counties in the State. And comparative 
peace has reigned over the country, so that there 
are no new heroes of war. Logansport has had 
its share of State and National honors since the 
Civil war but by comparison with the earlier days 
it does not seem so. And there is an average of 
strong character, if not the marked individual 
brilliancy of earlier days. 

A review of the list down to the present from 



118 Pastime Sketches 

the early days shows that Logansport has fur- 
nished three. United States Senators, John Tipton, 
Graham N. Fitch and Daniel D. Pratt. They have 
able biographers who have told of their lives and 
public acts, not possible in this brief sketch. David 
Turpie was for many years a resident of Logans- 
port before he became United States Senator. 
Schuyler Colfax represented this district before he 
became Vice President of the United States, as did 
also James N. Tyner, who became postmaster- 
general. 

Among other prominet men now living Rufus 
Magee was minister to Sweden and Norway, and 
Judge D. P. Baldwin was Attorney-general of Indi- 
ana. Logansport was also the home of Simon P. 
Sheerin, clerk of the Supreme Court ; Horace P. 
Biddle and William Z. Stuart, judges of the Su- 
preme Court of Indiana ; W. D. Owen, secretary of 
State, congressman and United States commis- 
sioner of immigration made Logansport his home; 
R. A. Brown, clerk of the Supreme Court lived in 
Logansport before his nomination. D. D. Pratt 
and Graham N. Fitch were elected to congress 
before they were made United States Senators and 
Logansport is the home of Frederick Landis. 
Charles B. Landis was a Logansport boy before he 
went to congress. George E. Ross served on the 
Appellate bench of the State and Dr. J. Z. Powell 
was a presidential elector, as were also Frank 
Swigart and Q. A. Myers. There is quite a list of 
senators, representatives, circuit judges and prose- 
cutors who served in distircts larger than Cass, 
who have been famed outside of their own local 
community, residents of Logansport, but their 



Pastime Sketches 119 

names appear fully in the histories of the State and 
county. 

Logansport has stood high in the railroad 
world, as far as the fame of her sons is concerned. 
George W. Stevens became President of the Chesa- 
peake & Ohio R. R. and L. F. Loree, President of 
the Baltimore & Ohio R. R., two great lines of the 
East and West and active competitors. Frank 
Hecker became president of the Peninsular Car 
Works and C. L. Freer, treasurer and both became 
millionaires and Mr. Hecker a colonel in the 
Spanish-American war. 



120 Pastime Sketches 



CHAPTER XXV. 

CASS COUNTY COMPANY FIRST IN CIVIL WAR. 

Not only is Major Wm. M. DeHart of this city 
entitled to the honor of being the first enlisted man 
in the Civil war but company D, the one he re- 
cruited in Logansport, which became part of the 
Ninth Indiana, was the first company recruited in 
that war. The recruiting was begun Saturday 
night, April 13th, 1861, and was continued all day 
Sunday and Monday. The recruiting office was on 
the corner of Fourth and Market streets where the 
State Bank now stands. DeHart had no official 
authority. He signed first himself and urged others 
to do so and within a week one hundred and twenty- 
five names had been secured. The company went to 
Indianapolis at the end of the week and the official 
records show that it was mustered in April 19th, 
1861, thus becoming the first company of the Civil 
war. The records of the adjutant-general of Indi- 
ana show that Lieutenant-Colonel Love was the 
mustering officer while the recollection of the sur- 
vivors is that Lieutenant-Colonel Wood was the 
mustering officer. Both were regular army officers, 
and the Logansport company was thus officially 
the first company of the Civil war. 

Major DeHart's claim is only disputed by C. F. 
Rand who enlisted in New York two days later, 
but who claims to be the first enlisted man "after 
Lincoln's call for 75.000 men." DeHart volunteered 



Pastime Sketches 121 

within an hour after the news of the fall of Fort 
Sumter came, his company was mustered in and 
entitled to the distinction of being the first to enlist 
in the great army of 2,778,304 men. Honors have 
been showered on Rand as the first claimant. Eng- 
land, Russia, Germany, France, Persia, Mexico, 
Egypt, India, Norway and Japan have recognized 
his claim. The United States voted him a medal 
and a pension as the first enlisted man after the call 
but the honor belongs to Major DeHart, who was 
later in forty-three battles and some skirmishes and 
was wounded near Ft. Pillow, Miss., in 1862. 

Company D has never asked for any recognition 
of its claim of being the first company organized in 
the Civil war. It was in action at the battle of 
Philippi as part of the Ninth regiment and served 
its three months of enlistment with honor. Most 
of its members re-enlisted in other companies. Rob- 
ert H. Milroy was colonel of the Ninth, J. W. Gor- 
don sergeant major and J. O. Cravens Q. M. ser- 
geant. Thomas M. Dunn was captain of Co. D. 
D. C. Weimer was first lieutenant and Like C. Vi- 
gus second lieutenant and quartermaster. O. W. 
Miles was a sergeant who became second lieutenant. 
Other sergeants were M. K. Graham, Ross L. Vigus 
and J. W. S. Liston. The corporals were W. M. 
DeHart, Samuel L. Purviance, Perry B. Bowser and 
T. H. Howes. The musicians were George \Y. 
Green, A. U. McAllister, and James M. Vigus. E. L. 
Eph'raim was fife major. 

One hundred and twenty-five men were taken to 
Indianapolis but the companies were formed with 
eighty-five men and part of those enlisting were 
not accepted and returned home. The complete 
list of those forming the first company of the Civil 



122 Pastime Sketches 

war in addition to those above named is as fol- 
lows : 

Austin Adair. John \Y. Amount, Hampton C. 
Booth, William H. Booth, Granville N. Black, 
Amos Barnett, Charles Bell, Samuel N. Black, Isaac 
Barnett, Allen Boyer, Ambrose Butler, John Castle, 
Isaac Castle. William H. Crockett, Ebenezer T. 
Cooke, John W. Chidester, James C. Chidester, 
James A. Craighead, Robert W. Clary, Allen B. 
Davidson, John Douglass, Charles A. Dunkle, 
David A. Ewing, Alex. K. Ewing, Theodore B. 
Forgy, William R. Greeley, Jacob Hudlow, John L. 
Hinkle, John Howard, Pollard Herring. David Jam- 
ison, Joseph Knight, James Linton, John S. Long, 
William Larimore, Joseph Linzy, Charles Longdorf, 
Abraham Lucus, Amos W. Mobley, George Myers, 
Samuel A. Mendenhall, John R. Moore, William 
Martin, Samuel Martin, William R. Marshall, John 
Means. Paul B. Miller, Edward Nefr, Graham N. 
Patton, Frederick J. Patrick, John Rush, David 
Reprogle, Jacob Storer. Austin Sargent, James A. 
Troup, John W. Tippet, John A. Woodward, James 
A. Wilkinson, Joseph Vickory. Cyrus J. Vigus, 
John W. Vanmeter, George C. Vanmeter, George 
S. Vanmeter, Richard Patton, William Patton. 

Captain Dunn, of this company, became a major 
and later went into the regular army as a captain 
of the 21st infantry. He died in California some 
years ago. 

Mention has been made of Camp Logan on the 
Westside. A few months ago, in September, a 
stone was erected to mark this famous camp. The 
stone is in the yard of the Bates street school 
building and bears the inscription, "Forty-sixth 
Indiana Volunteer Infantry organized and camped 



Pastime Sketches 123 

here from October to December, 1861." The stone 
was ordered at a meeting of the regiment held at 
Rochester, Indiana, in 1905. A committee was ap- 
pointed with Frank Swigart of Logansport as 
chairman to procure a stone and superintend its 
erection at the proper place. W. H. Duncan and 
George Clinger, of Cass county, were later added to 
the committee. George Clinger furnished the stone 
delivered at Peden's marbel works where it was 
engraved. The stone stands within twenty feet of 
the south line of Camp Logan, the guard line pa- 
trolled by the sentries. It is also near the east line 
of Camp Logan which extended westward about 
two thousand feet from this point. On the north 
the camp took in the ground now covered by the 
main track of the Vandalia railroad, extending a 
few feet north of the present main track. 



124 Pastime Sketches 



CHAPTER XXVI. 

BOYHOOD SPORTS IN FORMER DAYS. 

Logansport had not one famous "Old Swimmin' 
Hole" but many of them. With two rivers, several 
races and a canal in its midst, so to speak, there 
was no lack of material. And as a result the boy 
of fifty years ago spent much of his time in the 
water. Scarcely had the ice disappeared in the 
spring when the old familiar sign was given in the 
school room, two fingers held up. The quick res- 
ponse all around meant that when the school day 
was over there would be a rush to the river, or 
race — moist hair, or a shirt put on wrong side out 
often told the tale at home, and a whipping follow- 
ed, notwithstanding the protestations of innocence. 
Swimming was a crime in those 'days, the reason 
of which was hard to understand, even when the 
word was passed around that some playmate had 
gone beyond his depth and would never come to 
school again. 

Then there was the vigorous arm of the law in 
the person of David Middleton, the town marshal. 
Every boy felt himself a criminal in his presence, 
and passed him with downcast eyes, for it was 
against the law to go in swimming in the city limits 
before the shades of night had fallen. Never did 
the sun travel so slowly as in the evening hours 
when the assembled crowd sat upon the race bank 
and waited for dusk. And after the swim was over 



Pastime Sketches 125 

and dressing was in order came the derisive cry 
"chaw beef" as teeth were used to loosen the hard 
knots tied in the clothing by schoolmates on the 
bank. 

While there was an abundance of water around 
Logansport, there was quite a choice in bottoms 
and locations. "Sandy bottom" was all that its 
named implied. A gurgling pool in Eel river just 
below the water works dam was "The Tumbles," 
and a turn in the race to the Forest Mills near the 
present water works house was "The Bend." 
"Flat Rock" was an immense stone in Eel river 
above Riverside Park and "Little Dam" was on the 
Southside, an escape for the overflow of the race, 
near the Seventeenth street bridge. These two later 
were the "Old Swimmin' Holes" of Saturday after- 
noons in school days and of the hot, long summer 
vacation days. There, far from the watchful eye 
of the law, the rising generation learned to float, 
and dive, and swim. The canal had its devotees 
after dark, but there also was epicurean taste dis- 
played and less than half a dozen spots had the 
sandy bottoms necessary to meet the requirements 
of the rising generation. Then the canal was 
sluggish, and shallow, and commonplace. No 
danger lurked in its silent waters and its swimming 
holes were not even honored with a name. The 
water never sparkled, or bubbled, and the boy who 
managed to get drowned in the canal was thought 
to have come to a sad and ignoble end. And while 
boyish ambition pictured the glorious life and uni- 
form of a policeman no one ever wanted to grow 
up to be a canal-boat captain. The canal was very 
"tame" and even the fish caught in its muddy waters 
were thrown back. 



126 Pastime Sketches 

The first boy who had been in swimming in the 
spring time was famous, and his positive assertion 
that the water was "not a bit cold" carried convic- 
tion to the more timid. Nor was an oracle more 
honored than he who solemnly warned against 
dangers of going in in "dog days" the hot, sultry 
days of August — why they were "dog days" and 
what "dog days" were and what the dogs had to do 
with swimming no boy knew, except in a general 
way that dogs went" mad in that month and there- 
fore it was dangerous to go in swimming. The 
logic of it he could not fathom, but he blindly ac- 
cepted the fact. And he who was so venturesome 
as to disregard the superstition was thought to 
recklessly take his own life in his hands — and if 
sickness should, by chance, follow such impru- 
dence it was whispered about that it was the re- 
sult of going in swimming in "dog days." The 
earliest frosts of winter made swimming a thing of 
the past and then the average boy took a bath at 
home only as a result of compulsion. Instead the 
attic was searched for last winter's skates, and the 
toolchest for a file to sharpen them. 

"The "Frog Pond" was the earliest point of 
interest as winter approached. It was a marshy 
pool where Riverside Park now is and it got its 
name from the nightly concerts held there in the 
summer time. The water was back water from the 
dam. It was stagnant and froze quickly. Nor was 
the pool deep and therefore it was best adapted 
for early winter tests of ice. The youth who broke 
in got only muddy feet and a whipping when he 
got home. Trying the ice on the canal was a much 
more serious matter and so the ice was tested with 
rocks, long before there was a chance of it holding 



Pastime Sketches 127 

any one. When the ice became thick enough for 
skating it was tolerably well paved with rocks that 
would not come off. 

Then the snows came and Spear street hill and 
Market street hill became the centers of interest. 
And bob-sleigh parties to some distant farm house 
were gotten up. Great was the disappointment 
when a southern wind melted the snow and put to 
an end some plans for a bob-sleigh party. 

The chilly days of early spring found the future 
presidents of banks and railroads gathered under 
the projections of the canal warehouses, where, 
with red and benumbed fingures, they "knuckled 
down" on a piece of fur, or sheepskin, and opened 
up the marble season. 

The changes have been great since boyhood 
days. The canal is gone, the races are gone, the 
"old swimmin' holes" have been filled in, or changed 
by later improvements. And, saddest of all, some 
of the voices of old-time playmates are stilled for- 
ever. 



128 Pastime Sketches 



CHAPTER XXVII. 

A SUGGESTION OF A HISTORICAL SOCIETY HOME. 

Logansport was the home of one of the great 
characters of pioneer Indiana days. Indiana for 
many years was part of the great Northwest Ter- 
ritory at a time when it was ungoverned and the 
Indians held undisputed sway. 

Indiana Territory was formed in 1800 by an act 
of Congress, the bill providing for two capitals, one 
at Vincennes, and one at Chillicothe, now in Ohio. 
General William Henry Harrison was the first gov- 
ernor. 

John Tipton was born in East Tennessee, Aug- 
ust 14th, 1786. In the fall of 1807, when just of age 
he moved to Indiana Territory, settling at Brinley's 
Ferry on the Ohio river. In 1811 at the age of 25, 
he was an ensign in the battle of Tippecanoe and 
was made a captain for his bravery, his superior 
officers being killed. He gradually rose to the po- 
sition of Brigadier-General. He was elected sheriff 
of Harrison county, member of the legislature 
1819-20 and was on the commission selecting Indi- 
anapolis as the State capital. He was re-elected 
at the next election and was a member of the com- 
mission fixing the boundary line between Indiana 
md Illinois. In 1823, he was appointed Indian agent 
by President Monroe and removed to Ft. Wayne, 
the seat of the agency. This agency was moved 
to Logansport in 1828 and he took up his residence 



Pastime Sketches 129 

here. In December, 1830, at the age of 45 he was 
elected United States Senator to Succeed Hon. 
James Noble and again, in 1832-3 was elected to the 
full term of six years. He died April 5th, 1839, just 
after completing his term as Senator, at the age 
of 53. 

General Tipton was a natural leader, of vigorous 
mind. There were no schools in the early wilder- 
ness and nothing to read so that he had no school 
education. It is said he learned to read late in life, 
being taught by his oldest son. He kept a journal 
of his active public life which is one of the valuable 
documents of State history, strong in expression 
and detail accuracy, though on account of the lack 
of schooling facilities somewhat unique in spelling. 
No public monument in Logansport attests his 
greatness, though his name is perputated in the 
Masonic Temple, Tipton lodge being named after 
him. The appropriation of $12,500 by the State 
and $12,500 by Congress to erect a monument at 
the Tippecanoe battle ground will secure for him a 
monument there. In this connection the Biddle 
home would be a suitable home for the Histori- 
cal Society. It is old, historic and central. It 
is not otherwise valuable and could be paid for in 
time out of the annual dues of one dollar of the 
Historical Society, if the membership were large 
enough, as there are practically no expenses other- 
wise. A caretaker could be found for the use of 
part of it at no expense to the Society and it would 
form a nucleus for the gathering of interesting his- 
toric data and relics. The houses in New England 
pay all the expenses of the society from the volun- 
tary contributions of dimes and nickles by visitors, 
but there is in reality only a nominal expense for 



130 Pastime Sketches 

repairs, heating, etc. Judge Biddle was a jurist, 
poet and author and his home for many years was 
the mecca of visitors in Logansport. General Tipton 
first owned the island and some day the State will 
erect a monument to him there if it is owned by the 
Society. Whatever may be thought of these sug- 
gestions the Historical Society now has an ex- 
istance and will preserve at no expense much of the 
early history of the county conspicious in which 
will appear the name of General John Tipton. 



Pastime Sketches 131 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 

IN LIGHTER VEIN — ABOUT BRASS BANDS. 

While there is a saying that "music hath charms 
to sooth the savage breast," there is no record of 
the early Indians organizing any brass bands. 
Y\ 'hatever may be said of the early Indian this 
crime was never laid at his door. This remark ap- 
plies to the organization and early training, not to 
the fine music blown out of the horns by a well 
disciplined body of players. Band music has al- 
ways been a great inspiration in war and in peace, 
and the songs written about "Whein the Band Be- 
gins to Play" and the "Little German Band" are 
innumerable. In the dark days of the Spanish- 
American war when many Logansport boys were 
fighting mosquitoes on the arid plains of Florida 
the general in command forbade the playing of "On 
the Banks of the Wabash" because it made the men 
homesick. Lively airs only were played, and in 
Cuba "There'll Be a Hot Time in the Old Town 
Tonight" was played with such frequency that the 
Cubans mistook it for the National air. 

History is not complete without band history. 
The first band was organized some time in the 
fifties, by Graf and Wiseman, but they did not 
blow their own horns loud enough to be heard at 
the present time. Little is known about the or- 
ganization. 



132 Pastime Sketches 

Logansport had old fashioned singing schools 
and church choirs but musical talent was not 
thoroughly awakened until Herr John Wachter, 
of Germany, came to town. He had learned to 
play the cornet and probably had to leave Germany 
on that account. The authorities sometimes act 
firmly in matters of this sort. America, however, 
was the land of the free and so Herr Wachter 
opened Mozart Hall on Third street and organized 
a brass band. He got air for his cornet from the 
zephyrs that blew through Mozart Hall and prac- 
ticed the cornet between meals. When Herb 
Wagner played "Die Wacht on der Rhine" on the 
cornet one thought he was in Germany. 

When the band was organized it practiced at 
the tan-yard on the canal just north of the aqueduct 
over Eel river. There was a swamp just north of 
it, the canal was on the west, and Eel river on the 
south, so that the only danger of attack by indign- 
ant citizens was on the east. It was a splendid 
place for a newly organized band to commence prac- 
tice. 

The band progressed rapidly under the tutel- 
age of Mr. Wachter and soon became quite pro- 
ficient. Soon after its organization it received its 
first employment, by the Masons, to play at the 
funeral of a prominent member and at once learned 
a dirge which it executed with skill and frequency 
on the way to the cemetery. It became famous later, 
however, for its fine music and was soon the best 
band in Northern Indiana, there being no other. 

During the exciting days of the Civil war the 
Wachter band was a powerful factor in stirring up 
patriotism and its rendition of "Rally Round the 
Flag, Boys" and "John Brown's Body" never 



Pastime Sketches 133 

failed to bring cheers from the soldiers home on a 
furlough, and tears from the home folks having 
loved ones at the front. And when some soldier 
who had gone forth in the pride of youthful man- 
hood came home in a roughly hewn wooden box 
and the band played a dirge at the funeral there 
was not a dry eye along the line of march to the 
cemetery. It was a splendid band and many a 
man whose hair is more than tinged with gray re- 
members his boyish enthusiasm when the cry went 
up the street, "The band's out." 

The Wachter band was organized in the spring 
of 1860 with John Wachter, leader and cornetist. 
There is no record of its membership and during 
the years of its existence there were changes which 
make it difficult to determine its membership at 
any one time. George Scharf, of this city, is prob- 
ably the only living member and he recalls the first 
organization as composed of James Winemiller, 
snare drummer; Charles Hillhouse, base drummer; 
George Tipton, Jacob Hebel, Charles Hebel, "Like" 
Vigus, Peter Schwartz, Joseph Rebhan and George 
Kinsley, who owned the tan-yard where the band 
practiced. Thomas Herring was an early member 
and Fred Petting and Jacob Rhinehammer were 
also members, they seceding in 1864 to start another 
band which did not last long. William Fornoff and 
Michael Fornoff, afterwards band leaders, belonged 
at one time. George Scharf, the surviving member, 
came to Logansport in 1859 and has lived here most 
of the time since. He was born in Bavaria, June 
16th, 1838. W. H. Brown succeeded James Wine- 
miller as snare drummer and George Dunkle suc- 
ceeded him. 

The Cecillian band was organized in the spring 



134 Pastime Sketches 

of 1866 and the Wachter band after that gradually 
went to pieces. This band made its first public ap- 
pearance on July 4th with a repertoire of three 
pieces which it played with pride, if not with har- 
mony, throughout the day. William Fornoff was 
leader, and other members were Ed and Jud Tavlor, 
At Barnett, E. D. Chandler, Al Merritt, George 
Dunkle, Will H. Brown, Jay Powell, Hecht Powell, 
Chet Gridley, James Logan, George Scharf and Jim 
Glines. The band room was on the third floor of 
the building on Market street below Third, where 
Geigers Cigar store is. Other players joined at 
various times and the full list is long. "Bill" For- 
noff, the leader, was killed on the railroad while the 
band was going to play in another town and Michael 
Fornoff afterwards became the band leader of the 
town. There was also a "City Band" in the sixties 
but it did not long survive. 

Along in the early seventies Logansport went 
wild over band music. There were five bands, 
practicing every night and some of the members 
took their horns home with them and practiced 
Sundays. Many of the citizens moved away from 
town that year for this, or some other reason. Be- 
sides the Cecillian there was a band in the Father 
.Matthew organization known as the Father Mat- 
they Band. The Forest Mill band was organized 
at the mill of that name on Sixth street and Eel 
river but it did not do much but disturb the neigh- 
bors. It practiced at the mill behind barred and 
bolted doors and had a sentinel outside to keep 
some one from firing the building. John Dunkle or- 
ganized a band that year and the colored people 
had a band which is handed down to posterity only 
by the name of the "Coon" band. It was a great 



Pastime Sketches 135 

year for bands. Jay Powell and Michael Fornoff 
were the band leaders for many years following 
and Logansport always had good bands. Nineteen 
bands in all have livened the hearts of the people 
with their music. Most of them had orchestras 
for ball and entertainments. H. J. McSheehey was 
one of enthusiastic band players, being a member 
of the Concordia and other bands. 

Of the later bands several sprung up under the 
name of City band and died again. There were 
also several "Military Bands," playing for the Lo- 
gan Grays, or for the Cass Blues, and at public 
functions. Besides these there were the Mascot 
band, the K. of P. band, the Big Four band, the 
St. Joseph band, the Odd Fellows' band, the City 
Concert band and the present Elks band. It speaks 
or rather blows for itself. An old time musician, 
however, makes this criticism, "When we got 
through with a piece we played it over again but 
when the Elks band gets through it stops." It is 
a compliment to the band that the public wants 
more of its music. It is not thus with all bands. 



136 Pastime Sketches 



CHAPTER XXIX. 

AND BASE BALL ALSO. 

The story of Logansport is not complete with- 
out a history of its early ball days when live balls 
were used and the scores ran up into the hundreds. 
Nor in the history of sports should Logansport's 
only professional club be forgotten. 

Base ball was introduced to the boys of Lo- 
gansport by Professors Luther Roberts and J. P. 
Hughes of the Logansport Presbyterian Academy, 
which stood at the corner of Market and Seventh 
streets. This was about 1869 or 1870. Prior to 
that time town-ball, one-old-cat, two-old-cat and 
bull-in-the-pen engrossed the youths in their leisure 
moments, the ball being a piece of car-spring 
whittled round with a dull knife. 

Under the careful instructions of these early 
fans, grounds were laid out in Browntown at the 
west end of Market street bridge. The first club 
was naturally like Adam, a little lonesome, having 
no other clubs to play, but as fast as players were 
taught to play they were organized into opposition 
clubs, or picked nines, and "single nine" was soon 
a possibility. This club was organized at the 
Academy. Besides the two professors there were 
Will I. Brown, Will H. Brown, Frank Green and 
others not now recalled, probably Roswell Post, 
Charles McCarty and the Taylor brothers. 

The early instruction thus given at the Academy 



Pastime Sketches 137 

resulted in the organization of the famous Athletics, 
the pride of Northern Indiana. Many men now 
grown gray remember with what pride they carried 
water or chased the ball for the famous Athletics. 
Charles Jones played first base, Will "H." Brown, 
second, Charles Stuart and Oscar Goodwin were 
change pitchers and Joe Kreider and John Barn- 
hart change catchers. Third base was held down 
by one of the extra pitchers or catchers and Charles 
Conrad was short-stop. The fields were filled by 
Jim Logan, left field, John Talbott, center field, 
and Seth Pratt, right field. 

The Athletics played at Lafayette, Peru, Marion, 
Anderson, Ft. Wayne and other towns, and won 
every game. They played clubs from these towns 
at home and were equally successful. There was 
not a small boy in town who would not take off 
his hat when an Athletic passed. But there came 
a downfall and it was great. There was a Sunday 
School excursion — they were given every summer 
in those days by the various Sunday schools — and 
the Athletics went along to play an alleged club at 
Burnettsville. They called it a "Picked Nine" and 
it was made up of players who worked in a saw 
mill. The Athletic bats were turned out by Jim 
Henderson at the Henderson factory in Logans- 
port, while the Burnettsville bats were sawed out 
by a buzz-saw at the saw mill and trimmed down 
with a jack-knife. The diamond was laid off in a 
ploughed field near the mill. The Athletics had 
natty white flannel suits, the Burnettsville boys 
played in blue flannel shirts, blue overalls and bare 
feet. 

The Athletics went to bat first and made a few 
runs. The highest score they had made before that 



138 Pastime Sketches 

in any game was 127 to 25. Live balls were used 
then and the ball had to be pitched with the hand 
below the waist line. 

The captain passed the word along not to make 
any more runs as it would scare Burnettsville out, 
and so the players struck out. 

The first batter for Burnettsville knocked the 
ball over the saw-mill and made a home run. Fie 
could have made several while they were looking 
for the ball. The second batter did likewise. 
Pitchers were changed with no better result. The 
score piled up with no one out until the fielders 
were exhausted chasing balls and the game was 
called. The hearts of the Athletics were broken 
and the club never played again. 

The Independents were organized shortly be- 
fore the Athletics went to Burnettsville and played 
them several losing games. It was composed of 
other home players and won many hard fought 
games. Clubs were numerous later, but they 
played mostly at home. The Rough and Readies 
was also a strong home club. 

Logansport entered the professional field in 
1886, when the famous Ottos were organized. It 
was the first salaried club and it was a member of 
the Northern Indiana League, composed of the 
clubs at Logansport, South Bend, Elkhart, Fort 
Wayne, Marion and Frankfort. The League did 
not last long after the Fourth of July, the expense 
of maintaining a salaried club being too great. The 
Logansport club won the pennant, but it was never 
officially presented, the clubs disbanding before the 
close of the season. Many of the players won dis- 
tinction in other leagues. Frank Bowerman is still 
a catcher for the New York National League Club. 



Pastime Sketches 139 

George Cuppy was a pitcher for the Cleveland Na- 
tional League club when it won the pennant. 
Frank Stapleton played in the Texas State League 
and the California State League. Wallace Taylor 
was manager and captain of the Toronto, Canada, 
club, William Niles was third baseman of the Pitts- 
burg National League club and William Betenus 
was short stop of the Toledo Club in the Western 
League. William York played short stop for the 
Pelicans of New Orleans. 

Logansport has had many amateur clubs in the 
last few years but the base ball fever has never 
attained the height it did in the eighties. 



Pastime Sketches 141 



HISTORICAL SOCIETY 



ORGANIZATION OF THE CASS COUNTY, INDIANA, 
HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

At a meeting of the Citizens' Club held at Li- 
brary Hall, February 12, 1907, the subject of or- 
ganizing a Historical Society in Cass county was 
discussed. 

Dr. J. Z. Powell, president of the club, opened 
the subject by calling attention to the importance 
of such a society, in view of the approaching 
centennial of Indiana's admission to the Union. 

W. T. Wilson stated that he was in thorough 
accord with the suggestion and that he knew of 
instances where valuable data had been lost which 
should have been preserved. He urged that proper 
steps be taken toward such an organization. 

The chair on motion, appointed a committee 
of three to report at a future meeting on organ- 
ization and constitution as follows : W. S. Wright, 
W. T. Wilson and James McMillan. The paper 
of W. S. Wright, suggesting such an organiza- 
tion as a result of observation in New England, was 
as follows : 

"History has been described as the unwritten 
scroll of the future by some philosopher, as fiction 
with the truth left in, by another. Whatever the 
attraction, the fascination, we delve in ancient lore 



142 Pastime Sketches 

and gaze with awe at ancient landmarks. History 
is more entrancing than any fiction in the hands of 
a Macaulay and is likewise deep philosophy when 
discussed by Hume or Gibbon. Every great states- 
man and every profound philosopher has been a 
student of history while youth delights in the ro- 
mance of it. As students we wonder at the west- 
ward course of empire and try to learn the reason 
of it all. why Japan, after slumbering a few hundred 
years whipped the greatest nation on the face of 
the earth and why China with its immensely greater 
population still slumbers. And we wonder when 
China will awake. Fortunately for us, we are to 
the westward, the extreme westward, as regards 
these nations, and will probably know more on the 
subject before we are called to defend our shores 
against the Mongolian. 

"History becomes more interesting as the com- 
munity grows older and so we find the United 
States reaching an era of historical societies and 
Daughters of the American Revolution. 

''I was impressed with this idea by reason of 
a recent residence in New England, where organ- 
izations of that character occupy a prominent 
place. This led me to suggest to several citizens 
the wisdom of organizing such a society in Lo- 
gansport before many records and valuable his- 
toric documents are forever lost. The State of Indi- 
ana has a State society, organized in 1830 and re- 
organized once or twice since. Logansport has had 
one or two similar societies now defunct. Chicago 
has the best organization in the West where by 
subscriptions amounting to $190,000 a suitable 
building has been erected. The Chicago association 
has been through two fires and much valuable mat- 



Pastime Sketches 143 

ter was destroyed, but today it is in a prosperous 
condition. These facts are merely mentioned to 
show that there is a natural interest in such or- 
ganizations in every community and it merely needs 
crystalization. There are only five or six local his- 
torical societies in Indiana. Many more have been 
organized but have fallen by the wayside as is 
usual with a new movement. There is, however, 
a strong State society, of which local societies 
should be branches. There is also published an 
Indiana Magazine of History which is publishing 
and preserving much valuable matter. The tend- 
ency in the state at the present time is toward the 
organization of local societies and the probabilities 
are that they will be of greater prominence as the 
time for the State Centennial approaches, an event 
which will no doubt be celebrated in a fitting man- 
ner by Indiana. 

"The history of the growth of the New Eng- 
land associations may be interesting and sugges- 
tive. Almost every town and hamlet has them and 
of course there is a wealth of material of national 
interest. The societies were organized originally to 
preserve at nominal expense, matters of local his- 
tory. Some of them have grown in scope by gifts 
and donations and many of them are self-support- 
ing. The necessary expenses are nominal and are 
met by a small annual due, usually one dollar. All 
other expenses are created only by reason of volun- 
tary gifts and donations. To prevent any mis- 
understanding no assessments are permitted. Such 
donations are not necessary for the successful or 
permanent existence of the organizations. Briefly, 
the Xew England societies began with an effort 
to record and preserve details of history and grew 



144 Pastime Sketches 

into something greater by reason of gifts and loans 
of bric-a-brac of historic interest. As they are now- 
constituted they own property and their halls are 
centers of inter- - 

""Tourists from all over the United States v - I 
them and the revenues make them self-supporting. 
The preliminary work dates back may years but at 
the present time historic houses are occupied and 
the collections gathered there are interesting and 
instructive. The typical home of the Xew England 
Historical Society is an ancient landmark of historic 
interest. 

"For instance, the homes of Hawthorne, Paul 
Revere. Longfellow and others known to fame are 
thus occupied. The House of the Seven Gables, 
the scene of Hawthorne's novel, is thus occupied. 
The houses are repaired and preserved but changed 
as little as possible. They are filled with historic 
records, bric-a-brac, loaned or donated, and are 
open to the public. There are the spinning-wheels 
of the Mayflower party, the flint-locks of the revo- 
lutionary war and the Indian bibles of John Eliot. 
The signatures of John Hancock and George Wash- 
ington are affixed to ancient documents and the 
courtship of Priscilla and John Alden is recalled by 
reminders of their early housekeeping. Many of the 
articles are tagged, showing their ownership and 
that they are loaned to the Historical Society. An 
elderly couple are usually given a wing or an annex 
for dwelling purposes and are made custodians of 
the property. Additional guards are sometimes 
employed at night in the same way. In some of 
these houses a nominal admission fee of ten cents 
- iarged to cover expenses, in others a contribu- 
tion box is placed in a convenient corner. The rev- 






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~-\-\ • : 7 ?*7- itr: izi ::;-:.r :- 
: 77: -'-.:'- r. ::. :t ?- 1.. :-t r T tz ":j 7 
.- --7 ii. ; : ^: -"- :: - : -' -- - :•: -' A :~- 

v ::: 
7-7- it-: - r :-7 : :" Ai:~ :: 1-7' 



146 Pastime Sketches 

['resident, by an}' officer of the society at the re- 
quest of any three members, and there shall be the 
like power to call a public meeting, at any time on 
the request of five members. At any meeting six 
members shall constitute a quorum to transact 
business. 

Article 4. The officers of the society shall be : 
First — A President, who shall preside and pre 
serve order at all meetings of the society- 
Second — Three Vice Presidents, one of whom, 
in the order of election, shall preside at all meetings 
in the absence of the President. 

Third — A Secretary, who shall be charged with 
all correspondence required by the affairs of the 
society and who shall record and preserve the min- 
utes of the society. 

Fourth — A Treasurer, who shall receive all 
monies due the society, and hold the same subject 
to its order, and make an annual report of all 
receipts and disbursements. 

Fifth — An Executive Committee of five mem- 
bers, any three of whom shall constitute a quorum, 
whose duty it shall be to meet on the days upon 
which the society holds its sessions or at such other 
times as they deem expedient ; to select subjects 
for public lectures and appoint the individuals by 
whom the same shall be delivered at the annual 
meetings of the society; to attend to the publication 
of such lectures and other documents as they may 
deem expedient ; to take charge of all books, papers, 
specimens, models, curiosities, pictures, etc., belong- 
ing to the society, and to submit reports of their 
proceedings at the meetings of the society. They 
shall have power to make by-laws not inconsistent 
with the constitution : to direct and superintend all 



Pastime Sketches 147 

disbursements ; and generally to carry into effect 
all measures not otherwise provided for. 

Sixth — An Advisory Board of one from each 
township who shall meet with the executive com- 
mittee for conference and who shall report upon 
historical matters in their respective townships. 

Article 5. The President, Vice Presidents, Sec- 
retary and Treasurer shall have the privilege of 
sitting with the Executive Committee and voting on 
all measures that come before it. 

Article 6. Applications for membership shall be 
upon written petition, which application shall be 
referred to a committee of three, and such com- 
mittee shall report at the next meeting of the so- 
ciety. A three-fourths vote of the members of the 
society present shall be necessary to an election to 
membership. 

Article 7. Officers shall be elected by ballot at 
the annual meeting of the society and shall continue 
in office for one year, and until their successors are 
elected. Vacancies in any office may be filled by the 
Executive Committee until the next meeting of the 
society, at which time the vacant office shall be 
filled by ballot. Any officer may be removed from 
office for malfeasance or misconduct injurious to the 
society, under the regulations prescribed for the 
expulsion of members. 

Article 8. Each member shall pay into the 
hands of the Treasurer one dollar annually as 
dues. 

Article 9. Any member of the society shall at 
any time have the right of withdrawing, upon filing 
with the Secretary a notice in writing of such in- 
tention, accompanied by the Treasurer's receipt in 
full for all dues. 



148 Pastime Sketches 

Article 10. This constitution shall be subject 
to amendment at any meeting of the society by a 
vote of three-fourths of the members present; 
Provided, that an amendment offered at any meet- 
ing shall lay over to the next meeting before being 
adopted. The following officers were elected : 

President, Hon. D. P. Baldwin. 

Vice-Presidents, Dr. J. Z. Powell, Wils Berry 
and Mrs. J. W. Ballard." 

Secretary, W. S. Wright. 

Treasurer, B. F. Sharts. 

Executive Committee, Q. A. Myers, B. F. Long, 
W. T. Wilson, James H. McMillen, James D. Mc- 
Nitt. 

Advisory Board, Adams Township, Samuel Mc- 
Lain ; Bethlehem, Orlando Powell ; Boone, Lewis 
E. Beckley ; Clay, Chauncey Custer ; Clinton, Wil- 
lard Fitzer ; Deer Creek, D. W. E. Lybrook ; Eel, 
A. H. Douglass ; Harrison, John T. Walker ; Jack- 
son, F. H. Thomas; Jefferson, Caleb Banta; Miami, 
Cyrus T. Miller; Noble, Lewis McMillen; Tipton, 
George W. Bishop ; Washington, John P. Martin. 

FIRST PUBLIC MEETING OF THE CASS COUNTY, INDI- 
ANA HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

The first public program of the Cass County, 
Indiana, Historical Society was given Friday eve- 
ning, May 17, 1907, at Library Hall before an audi- 
ence that filled the room. The meeting was a suc- 
cess in every way, the papers were interesting and 
at times spicy and the old time music enjoyable. 

Judge D. P. Baldwin, president of the society, 
opened the meeting with an interesting talk on 
politics and campaigning in early times. He spoke 



Pastime Sketches 149 

of the old time enthusiasm, torch-light campaigns, 
and joint debates and of the brilliancy of Inger- 
soll, Turpie, Colfax, Fitch, Tipton, Pratt and other 
debaters who lived or had spoken in Logansport. 
He referred to the old time methods of "blocks of 
five" when votes were purchasable and of the tact 
and ability of the editorial writers of the war times, 
S. A. Hall, of the Pharos, and J. T. Bryer and T. 
H. Bringhurst of The Journal. Judge Baldwin was 
followed by E. S. Rice on "Early Business Houses 
and Methods." 

Dr. J. Z. Powell, Vice President, took the chair 
after Judge Baldwin's remarks and explained the 
purpose of the society and its aims and objects. Wils 
Berry responded to one of the subjects by telling 
a story he had heard his father, who came to Cass 
county in 1829, tell of some of the early incidents 
of canal days. The Grand Army Glee club, com- 
posed of Messrs. Cushman, Crain, Richardson and 
Watkins, rendered songs from a singing book of 
1838. The society adjourned to meet at some fu- 
ture date on call of the executive committee. 

The third address of the evening on "Society 
and Social Matters, Customs and Habits of the 
Pioneers of Cass County," was by Mrs. J. W. Bal- 
lard, daughter of General Milroy of Civil war fame. 
Mrs. Ballard said: 

MRS. J. W. BALLARD'S PAPER. 

At an old settlers' meeting held in my native 
county some years ago an address was made by a 
comparatively young man, his subject being the ex- 
periences of the first settlers of this part of Indi- 
ana. At the conclusion of his remarks one of the 



150 Pastime Sketches 

few remaining pioneers, who was seated on the 
platform, arose and said : "My young- friend has 
told his story well, as far as he knew, but my 
friends, no one but one who was there can tell that 
story as it ought to be told." 

If this society had been organized, say, twenty 
years ago, what valuable information might have 
been obtained from some of the early settlers them- 
selves. However, if it had been organized that 
long ago I would have only stood about one chance 
in ten thousand of having been honored with an 
office, so it is just as well: 

As my early life was spent in the adjoining 
county of Carroll, where my grandfather, Gen. Mil- 
roy, settled in the early part of the year 1826, my 
father living on the same farm 75 years, my know- 
ledge of pioneer ways comes mostly from the peo- 
ple whom I knew in my youth. But in early times 
the counties of Cass and Carroll were more neigh- 
borly, perhaps, from their mutual need, than now. 

The country was so sparsely settled that a man 
living twenty miles away was a tolerably close 
neighbor. Then, too, from '27 to '29 Cass county 
was under the jurisdiction of Carroll, so that the 
Habits, customs and social diversions of the two 
counties were practically the same. 

When Alexander Chamberlain, the first perman- 
ent white resident of Cass county, built his double 
log house, all the able-bodied white men of the 
"Deer Creek settlement," twenty miles away, were 
hidden to the raising, and they responded to a 
man. And these friendly offices were not performed 
for pay. In fact, it was considered an insult to 
offer a man money for any neighborly service. 

Quite different a little incident which came 



Pastime Sketches 151 

under my observation one day last winter. I was 
coming down the street after a slight snow storm. 
Two little fellows had cleared the sidewalk in front 
of their own house and were busily working away 
in front of the house next door, when they spied 
their father coming, dropping their shovels, they 
ran to meet him, crying out "Oh papa, see what we 
have done !" "Yes," said the father, "But what are 
you getting for it?" Thus early .implanting in 
those childish minds the idea that no service, how- 
ever trivial, should be performed without pay. - 

The pioneers from necessity, as do some 
moderns from choice, lived the genuine simple life. 
Log houses, home made furniture and simple fare 
were the rule. The men cleared, tilled and culti- 
vated the soil, planted and gathered the crops. 

The spinning, weaving, knitting, sewing and 
other innumerable household duties were performed 
by the women of the family. And this was no light 
task when you remember that small families were 
the exception in those days. 

Then, when a woman married, she hoped and 
expected to have something infinitely sweeter and 
dearer to hold in her arms than a poodle dog, or a 
Teddy bear — and large families were not then an 
object of curiosity. 

Brawn and muscle were a valuable asset in the 
days when bodily strength and vigor were so ne- 
cessary to transform the pathless forests into fertile 
fields, and the man who could fell the most trees, 
split the greatest number of fence rails in a given 
time, lift the heaviest weight, throw the hammer 
the fartherest, shoot the truest and come out best 
in a wrestling bout was a man to be looked up 
to. 



152 Pastime Sketches 

They didn't rush into law at every slight pro- 
vocation, but men frequently settled disputes them- 
selves by using the weapons with which nature had 
provided them. 

For recreation the women had their quilting 
bees, comfort knottings, carpet-rag sewings, wool 
pickings and when the opportunity came they 
would take their sewing or knitting along and go 
out to spend the day. 

A dear old lady used to come to our house in 
my early childhood. How I admired her as she 
walked up through the yard, her work in one hand, 
the voluminous dress skirt held up in front by the 
thumb and forefinger of the other, the back of her 
dress floating out behind her like a small balloon. 
Oh, I did wish that the time would come when T 
could wear long dresses and look like that. But 
alas! as in so many cases, realization fell short of 
anticipation, for when I did finally attain to the 
dignity of long dresses the skirts were made so 
tight one could scarcely step and they held them 
up in the back. 

Education and religion were not neglected but 
received early attention. The first educational or- 
ganization was effected under Gen. John Tipton and 
in the year 1829, the first school, known as the Eel 
River Seminary was opened. Churches were organ- 
ized in 1828 and '29, and now Logansport might al- 
most as well be spoken of as the "City of Churches" 
or the City of Schools" as the "City of Bridges." 

Letters were a luxury in that time as it cost from 
six to twenty-five cents to send a letter any dis- 
tance. And from the specimens of old letters which 
I have been privileged to read, more care was taken 
in their writing and composition than now. They 



Pastime Sketches 153 

sound somewhat stilted and formal to those of us 
more accustomed to the off-hand, careless manner 
of modern letter writers. For instance a common 
form of closing a letter was: "Believe me to be Sir 
with great respect your most obedient and humble 
servant." 

I have a letter written in 1832. The writer had 
started from Delphi to Washington City on some 
political business, making most of the journey on 
horseback. 

At his stopping place he wrote to his wife of 
nearly a quarter of a century and the mother of his 
ten children, as follows, after telling her of his safe 
arrival so far on his journey, and of his continued 
good health, he says : "I have not forgotten the tear 
that trembled in your eye when I bade you farewell, 
nor the effort you made to replace it with a smile. 
May I never give you cause for a tear, and I shall 
anxiously await the moment that shall again restore 
me to your smiles." 

Can any of you imagine a husband of today tak- 
ing the time to put all of that on paper? Especially 
after twenty-five years of married life. Not that 
their affection is any the less sincere. They simply 
haven't time to tell it and expect it to be taken for 
granted. 

You have doubtless heard of the woman who 
tried to elicit some expression of regard from her 
husband who was busy with the evening paper. 
"Do you love me, dearie," she cooed. "Yes," came 
from behind the paper. "How much?" No answer. 
"How much do you love me?" she persisted. "Oh, 
I love you better than my life. Now shut up and 
go and sit down." 

As the hamlets grew into towns and the count rv 



154 Pastime Sketches 

became more thickly settled the forms of entertain- 
ment grew more elaborate. Parties, balls and boun- 
tiful spreads were in order. But for many years it 
remained the custom in serving any number of 
guests to place the food all on the table at once, let- 
ting each one help themselves, a most comfortable 
and informal way. 

A daughter of one of the prominent old resi- 
dents of Logansport related to me a little incident 
which occurred in her father's time. A number of 
gentlemen were being entertained and as was usual, 
when it came time to serve refreshments, every- 
thing was placed on the table. After the guests 
were seated the host said, "Now boys, just help 
yourselves.*' which they proceeded to do. One of 
the party, a judge said: 'AYell, you fellows can have 
all the knicknacks, I'll take mashed potatoes," and 
he helped himself liberally to ice cream. 

One of the most common and pleasant forms of 
amusement for young people was the good old time 
country dance. Now there is dancing and dancing. 
I am not any more in favor of promiscious embrac- 
ing to slow music than are many of you. But I never 
could see the harm in the right kind of dancing, in 
the right way, in good company and to good music. 
Bringing into play as it does almost every muscle 
in the human body, induring a cheerful, happy 
frame of mind, it certainly ought not be condemned. 

Did any of you ever go to a country dance, the 
real thing? Well, I have. In many things my 
father clung to pioneer ways. He would never al- 
low kissing games or round dancing in his house, 
but he always dearly loved to see young people 
dancing the country dances of which he was so 
fond in his vouth. Besides if his children wanted to 



Pastime Sketches 155 

dance, he believed in allowing them to dance at 
home. So sometimes in winter evenings the boys and 
girls from the neighboring farms would come in, the 
big old farm house kitchen would be cleared, the logs 
pushed back in the fire-place, the candles put up on 
the mantle and father would begin to tune up his 
fiddle. Now he had brought that fiddle from Mex- 
ico at the close of the Mexican war where he was in 
the cavalry. At the close of the war he traded his 
horse, saddle and bridle to a Mexican for the fiddle, 
and the music he could draw from those strings 
would send the blood fairly tingling to the tips of 
your fingers and the ends of your toes. You 
couldn't sit still if you wanted to and you didn't 
want to sit still if you could. Some one would say 
"Partners for a quadrille" the girls would sit around 
trying to look as if they didn't care whether any 
one asked them to dance or not, but when some 
dear, innocent-faced country boy would step up to 
one of them and say, bashfully, "Will you please 
assist me in this quadrille," she would answer 
"With pleasure," and she meant it, too. They would 
take their places in the set, the music would start 
and with "Honors to your partners, and balance 
all" the dance was on. Those old times as they 
come echoing down to me through all the inter- 
vening years have lost none of their charm. 

PAPER OF MR. E. S. RICE READ BEFORE THE HIS- 
TORICAL SOCIETY, MAY 17, 1907. 

In 1835 B. O. Spencer, my half brother, came 
here from Cincinnati, and went into the grocery and 
commission business. In 1837 he was joined by my 
brother, G. Jay Rice, and the firm of Spencer & Rice 



156 Pastime Sketches 

was established. They were so well pleased with 
the city, its location and future prospects, and the 
profitable business they were doing, that they per- 
suaded our mother to dispose of her home in Pa- 
vilian, Genessee county, New York, and move here, 
which she did in the month of October, 1838. The 
family at removal consisted of our mother, three 
sisters, brother R. D. Rice, and myself. 

The distance to Buffalo was forty miles. What 
is now the New York Central Railroad was then 
completed only between Albany and Rochester, and 
there was no other railroad leading farther west at 
that time. We procured teams to transport us and 
our baggage to Buffalo, where we took passage on 
a steamer on Lake Erie for Toledo. At Toledo we 
were transferred to a small steamer on the Maumee 
river which conveyed us about fourteen miles to the 
town of Maumee which was the head of navigation 
on that river. At Maumee we procured teams to 
transport us to Ft. Wayne. 

On our way up the river we fell in company with 
other passengers westward bound, and all stopped 
for the night at a large double log tavern. There 
were beds enough fortunately for the women, but 
the men and boys had to sleep on the floor. There 
was a very large fire place in the office, bar room 
and sitting room combined, and the morning being 
quite cold, the landlord had made up a rousing big 
fire. While the travelers, nearly a score of them, 
were sitting around waiting breakfast, in came one 
of the native Buckeyes, thinly clad, and very bilious 
looking, and walked up in front of the fire, turned 
his back to it, and gave us the worst specimen of 
shaking ague I have ever seen. It so happened that 
not a traveler present had ever seen a case of the 



Pastime Sketches 157 

kind before, and it was very amusing the way they 
gathered around and plied him with questions. They 
wondered why he could not stop shaking. The 
Maumee Valley at that time and for years after- 
ward was notorious for its ague and bilious dis- 
eases. The Miami Valley ranked next, and the Wa- 
bash Valley was a good third. 

Work in the construction of the Wabash and 
Erie Canal had been progressing about two years, 
but the only part completed and in operation was 
between Ft. Wayne and Logansport. Captain Sam 
Mahon was running a line of boats between these 
two points carrying both freight and passengers. 

At Ft. Wayne we took passage on one of these 
boats for Logansport. We landed just west of 
Berkley street, where a basin had been con- 
structed for boats to turn just south of Parker & 
Johnson's Planing Mill. At that time the Tipton 
farm was cultivated down to Berkley street, and a 
large field of corn was standing. There was a high 
bridge over the canal at Berkley street, requiring a 
very long embankment extending over half way to 
the Wabash river to reach it from the south. Work 
was progressing on the lock just west of Berkley 
street, the aqueduct over Eel river, and the first lock 
west of the city. These were completed and the 
water was turned in to this acqueduct level in the 
spring of 1840. The bridges over the canal at Mar- 
ket, Broadway, North and High streets were all 
high, necessitating long embankments at each end. 

The business houses at this time were all located 
on Market street between Second and Fourth. Com- 
mencing at Second street, a three-story brick build- 
ing occupied the corner where the Barnett Hotel 
now stands. This building contained two store 



158 Pastime Sketches 

rooms. The corner one was occupied by the firm of 
Taber & Chase, successors of Ewing Walker & 
Taber, and the other by Philip Pollard, both being 
dealers in general merchandise. A short distance 
east on the north side of the street there was a small 
one-story building occupied by James H. Kintner, a 
manufacturer of saddles and harness. On the oppo- 
site side of the street Gen. N. D. Grover was en- 
gaged in the same business, in a frame building ad- 
joining his brick residence on the alley now owned 
by Mrs. Kraut. Gen. Grover was succeeded a few 
years afterward by Fuller & Clendening, who came 
from Troy, Ohio. Next to Kintner on the north side 
of the street there was a one-story building occupied 
by John M. Ewing as a tailor shop. Then came an- 
other one-story building, occupied by J. L. Miller, 
merchant and postmaster. At the southwest cor- 
ner of Market and Third streets stood Washington 
Hall, a two-story frame hotel, owned by Cyrus Vi- 
gus. but conducted at that time by Jacob Humbert. 
It fronted on Market street, but extended back, oc- 
cupying the most ground on Third street. From 
this hotel extending down Market street to the alley 
was a row of two-story frame buildings all built 
solidly together, and divided into store rooms about 
18 to 20 feet wide, and this was called "Commercial 
Row." It was a very plain building, weather- 
boarded, and with doors and windows very much 
like a dwelling house. In addition to the store 
rooms, there were doors to the stairways leading to 
the rooms above which were used for offices and 
shops of different kinds. The occupants were as 
follows: Gen. Hyacinth Lasselle, merchant, using 
the room above for a printing office, from which the 
Logansport Telegraph was issued weekly, of which 



Pastime Sketches 159 

publication he was proprietor and John B. Dillon 
editor. Smead Kendall & Co., clothing, boots and 
shoes, etc. ; Anderson & Atwell, dry goods ; Eldridge 
& Cummings, general merchandise; Underhill & 
Co., hardware. The brick buildings opposite this 
block were erected a year or two afterward. The 
firm of Ewing & Walker, Indian traders, occupied 
a two-story frame building, painted yellow, which 
stood on the northeast corner of Market and Third 
where Harry N. Ward's shoe store is now located. 
The Bringhurst store building recently torn down 
and rebuilt, was occupied by the firm of Hanna, Mc- 
Clary & Dart, dealers in general merchandise. This 
building and a hotel on the southwest corner of Mar- 
ket and Fourth streets called the "Mansion House," 
where the Golden Rule store now stands, were the 
only brick buildings on Market street east of Third 
street. 

On the southsicle of Market from Third to the 
alley, the buildings were one story. The only occu- 
pants I can remember were George Parker, barber, 
Joe Green, shoemaker, and Mart Gridley, jeweler. On 
a space between the alley and the Mansion House 
stood the dwelling and garden of George B. Walker. 
On the northside of Market between the Hanna, 
McClary & Dart building and the alley, there were 
two one-story buildings, saloons. From the alley 
east to Fourth street, there were three two-story 
frame store buildings. The first was occupied by S. 
P. Hopkins, dry goods dealer, the second by Spencer 
& Rice, groceries and provisions, and the third by 
Jeroloman & Lytle's drug store. The other build- 
ings were all one story. The corner one where Por- 
ter's drug store now stands was occupied by Barton 
R. Keep as a hardware store. Across the street on 



160 Pastime Sketches 

the northeast corner of Fourth and Market, stood 
the old brick Seminary. It was a one-story building 
about 20 by 60, with its side to Market street, en- 
trance door in the middle to a hallway running 
straight through the building, dividing it into two 
rooms of equal size. 

There were no business houses on Market east of 
Fourth. The Market street bridge embankment 
reached nearly to the alley. There were a few cheap 
two-story dwelling houses on the southside of the 
street, two of which were occupied by old John 
Dorsey as a tavern or boarding house. 

The Philip Leamy house, a brick structure, stood 
on the corner of Fourth and Canal streets, near the 
present P. C. C. & St. L. depot. Israel Johnson was 
the only merchant on Fourth street. He lived in a 
brick house that stood where the Stewart Dry 
Goods store is now located. His store was a two- 
story frame building adjoining his dwelling. He 
was in the grocery and provision business. In ad- 
dition to this he kept a cafe in a building adjoin- 
ing- his store room. On the east side of Third street, 
near Market, John Dodd had a restaurant in a brick 
building, which is still standing. Just opposite this 
was the office of Dr. G. N. Fitch, the bakery of Coul- 
son & Clem, and the shoe shop of George P. Dagan. 
At the northwest corner of Third and Broadway, J. 
P. Berry kept a little store, adjoining which was the 
tin shop of A. M. Higgins. Next to this came the 
office and dwelling of Dr. Uriah Farquhar, and then 
the office of George Weirick, Esq., justice of the 
peace. Opposite this, on the east side of the street, 
W. T. S. Manly and Israel Neal had a furniture 
and undertaking establishment. On the west side 
of the street between North and High streets near 



Pastime Sketches 161 

Eel river, the McElhaney Brothers had, I think, a 
blacksmith shop. The firm of Tipton & Vigus, suc- 
cessors to Tocld & Vigus, was the only business 
house on Broadway, and was located in a small 
two-story brick building, standing on the ground 
now occupied by the Murdock Hotel. 

The business of our merchants at this time was 
quite limited. The canal was not yet completed to 
the junction of the Ohio canal. No shipments of 
produce could be made without expensive hauling, 
and it was expensive getting their goods here. The 
cheapest way to get them was by steamboat to La- 
fayette, when the rivers were high, and haul from 
there. Farmers having considerable surplus were 
obliged to haul it to Michigan City, the nearest 
shipping point, and return with salt and other ar- 
ticles which were necessarily higher here, but it took 
several days to make the trip, especially when the 
roads were bad, which was usually the case. 

We had no bank and it was very difficult to pro- 
cure exchange. The currency in circulation was 
mostly sent out west by eastern banks to get it as 
far away from home as possible. Our small silver 
change and gold was largely foreign. Copper cents 
were not used at all. Nothing was sold for less than 
a fip, which was 6% cents, and a bit, 12^ cents. 
Every merchant was obliged to take a monthly 
Bank Note Detector and a Coin Chart, and keep 
them hanging very handy for reference. In addi- 
tion to this there was in circulation canal scrip, paid 
out to contractors for work on the canal. There 
were two kinds of this scrip called White Dog and 
Blue Pup. It was redeemable in canal lands. 

Logansport was granted a city charter in 1838 
with a population of only about one thousand. Evi- 



162 Pastime Sketches 

dently its citizens had great expectations. The sud- 
den death of General Tipton, which occurred on 
the morning of April 5, 1839, after a few hours of 
unconsciousness, in the meridian of life — his 
54th year — cast a gloom of sadness over the city and 
surrounding country. His funeral on Sunday, April 
7, 1839, which I attended, was conducted by his Ma- 
sonic brethren, and the largest ever before known in 
this section of country. 

At this time there were but two church build- 
ings or meeting houses. The Methodist Episcopal, 
a one-story brick building on the east side of Sixth 
street between Broadway and North, and the Pres- 
byterian, a one-story frame building on the south 
side of Broadway between Fifth and Sixth streets, 
set back from Broadway so far that the back end 
reached the alley. This building is still standing. 
The pastor of this Presbyterian church was Dr. 
Martin M. Post. There being no Baptist Sunday 
school, I attended the Presbyterian Sabbath school, 
of which Nathan Aldrich was then superintendent. 
The division of the Presbyterian church into two 
branches, the old and the new school, did not take 
place until 1840. The new school, represented by 
Dr. Post retained the church building and property. 
The first pastor of the old school division was the 
Rev. James Buchanan. They worshipped in the 
second story of a two-story frame building which 
stood on the northwest corner of Broadway and 
Fourth, where Henry Wiler & Co. are now located. 

The courts were first held in the old Seminary 
building, but that being too small, they were often 
held in the Presbyterian church. The judges, I 
remember, were Judge Henry Chase, father of Dud- 
ley H. Chase, and Associate Judges Solomon Hor- 



Pastime Sketches 163 

ney and H. L. Thomas. The lawyers were W. Z. 
Stuart, D. D. Pratt. John S. Patterson, John F. 
Dodds, Horace P. Biddle and A. M. Flory. Justices 
of the peace were R. F. Groves, George Weirick, 
George Smith and James W. Dunn. 

The jail was constructed of hewn logs. The fol- 
lowing story is connected with this jail. In 1837 a 
shoemaker by the name of Harrison, whose shop 
was near Eel river, committeed a murder. He was 
arrested, tried, convicted and sentenced to be hung 
at a certain time. A gallows, constructed of hewn 
logs, was set up on the commons near Eel river be- 
tween Ninth and Tenth streets, for the purpose. The 
date for the hanging was pretty well published and 
people came from all the country round about, on 
foot and on horseback, and in all kinds of convey- 
ances to witness the execution. The night before 
he was to be executed, he hung himself in the jail. 
It is said that the people who came to witness the 
sight were very angry when they learned they had 
been cheated out of it. The gallows stood there for 
several years until it rotted down. I have seen his 
grave in the old cemetery, with his sign placed be- 
side the mound to designate it. 

The newspapers published at this time were the 
Logansport Telegraph by Hyacinth Laselle and 
John B. Dillon, the Logansport Herald by J. C. & 
David Douglass, and the Wabash Gazette by Moses 
Scott, with H. P. Biddle as editor in chief. In 1842 
when the Wabash and Erie canal was completed 
down the Maumee river to its junction with the 
Ohio canal, giving us an outlet to Lake Erie, Lo- 
gansport took a wonderful start, the nearest it 
ever came to a boom. The country north to the 
Tippecanoe river and beyond, and for twenty-five or 



164 Pastime Sketches 

thirty miles south became tributary to this point. 
Produce of all kinds was hauled here, sold to our 
merchants, and shipped to eastern markets. Our 
merchants, manufacturers and mechanics all got 
busy, money became more plentiful, warehouses 
and store buildings were constructed, and a remark- 
able spirit of enterprise and prosperity prevailed 
among all classes. During 1843, 4 and 5, large 
stone warehouses were constructed by Pollard & 
Wilson, near the lock; by Jesse Millason at the 
northeast corner of Market and Fifth ; by the Rod- 
gers Brothers between Market and Broadway ; by 
Peter Anderson at the southeast corner of Broad- 
way and Fifth streets ; and by Israel Johnson be- 
tween North and High street. These buildings are 
all still standing, although the most of them have 
changed ownership. 

In 1843, the following new merchants located 
here, Henry Martin & Co., M. S. Butler, A. J. Field 
& Co., Stephen Munson, William Brown & Son, 
and Saulsbury & Baxter. Heretofore, our only way 
to travel eastward was either to go by canal to Ft. 
Wayne, and by perogue down the Maumee river, or 
by stage to Indianapolis, by Madison and Indian- 
apolis Railroad to Madison, and by steamboat to 
Cincinnati. 

Now, we could take a packet boat on the canal, 
and travel night and day at the rate of six miles an 
hour. The rule was, three horses to a boat chang- 
ing horses every ten miles. Every boat had a por- 
ter, and like present porters on our sleeping cars, 
a part of his perquisite was what he could get for 
blacking the passengers shoes. I remember once on 
a trip to Cincinnati when the passengers began to 
retire to their very narrow contracted berths, one 



Pastime Sketches 165 

man did not remove his shoes and allowed them to 
be discernable. The porter came along and notic- 
ing them, remarked, "Just look ! that man has gone 
to bed like a horse, with his shoes on." 

Merchants could now, while navigation was 
open from six to seven months of the year, get mer- 
chandise from Cincinnati in three or four days' 
time, and from New York it took about three weeks, 
as it came by steamer from New York to Al- 
bany, by canal from Albany to Buffalo, by steamer 
from Buffalo to Toledo, and by canal again from 
Toledo to Logansport. 

While our merchants duly appreciated the ad- 
vantages of water transportation, enabling them to 
obtain large reductions in freight, they still labored 
under the great disadvantage of having navigation 
closed for about half the year. In the fall it was 
necessary to make large purchases to last until the 
opening of navigation in the spring. Just contrast 
that condition of things with the present. Now, our 
merchants are receiving goods every day in the 
year, except Sunday. It was customary in those 
days to purchase goods on six months' time. That 
was the understanding with manufacturers, jobbers 
and retailers. The customer was allowed the pre- 
vailing rate of interest on any payments he might 
make before the bill became due. 

In 1843, at the age of 16, I commenced clerking 
for the firm of Henry Martin & Co. It was then I 
first met Mr. John C. Merriam, with whom I was 
afterward associated in partnership for thirty-five 
years. He was eight years older than I, and an ex- 
perienced dry goods merchant. He was from Bran- 
don, Vermont, on his way west looking for a loca- 
tion, when he fell in company with Mr. Henry Mar- 



166 Pastime Sketches 

tin, who in connection with a Mr. Bartlett, of New 
York, had shipped a stock of goods to Fort Wayne, 
with the intention of locating there. When they 
reached Fort Wayne, a vacant store room could not 
be found, and Mr. Martin concluded to forward the 
goods to Logansport. Mr. Martin then persuaded 
Mr. Merriam to accompany him here and assist in 
opening and preparing his goods for sale. The 
store room on Market street now occupied by An- 
drew Welch was leased and occupied by the firm 
as long as it continued in business here, which was 
about two years. Mr. Merriam was so well pleased 
with the city and its people that he decided to re- 
main. Mr. Martin also employed Mr. E. B. Strong, 
an old resident well acquainted with the people of 
the city and country. At the expiration of about a 
year Mr. Bartlett made arrangements with Mr. Mer- 
riam to establish a store in Monticello, and he went 
there to take charge of it. During the year 1844 Mr. 
Bartlett closed up the business of Henry Martin & 
Co., here, and sold to Mr. Merriam his interest in 
the store at Monticello. In the summer of 1845 Mr. 
Merriam employed mc to take charge of his store at 
Monticello, while he took a trip east. Yes, he went 
oast, but he went south first to Kentucky where he 
married Mrs. Merriam, and together they went to 
their old home in Vermont to spend their honey- 
moon. He was gone nearly three months, leaving 
me entirely alone, in that hamlet, at that time so 
very uninteresting. 

It was during my stay there that a tornado swept 
oxer Logansport, unroofing part of the new court 
house, Knowlton and Dows Foundry and Machine 
Shop, destroyed the Market House, damaged sev- 
eral other buildings, and according to the descrip- 



Pastime Sketches 167 

tion of Enion Kendall, carried away the hat of the 
County Treasurer Howes, containing a lot of "ver- 
bal orders." 

In October following- that summer I accepted 
the position of clerk and bookkeeper for Pollard & 
Wilson, which I held for seven years from 1845 to 
1852. In addition to dry goods and general mer- 
chandise, the firm dealt in grain and all kinds of 
country produce, but they had never tried the pack- 
ing of pork. The season for pork packing in those 
days was from about the first of December to the 
middle of January. There was no good market for 
it at any other time. Now, there is a good market 
for it all the time. A Air. Seering from New York 
used to come our every season and join Israel John- 
son in packing at his warehouse on the canal, and 
they found the business profitable. In the year 
1847, Pollard & Wilson and Taber & Chase con- 
cluded to unite and try their luck at the business. 
Pork was quite low that season, the price running 
from 1.87 to 2.25 per hundred. The average price 
of the pork purchased was 2.10. When navigation 
opened the next spring the price had declined and 
continued to decline until mid-summer. They fi- 
nally shipped their mess pork and lard and sold it 
at a small loss, and to reduce their loss as much as 
possible, had the hams and shoulders smoked and 
retailed them out during the summer and fall. By 
this tedious and troublesome method they reduced 
their loss to a little less than one thousand dollars. 
In the summer of 1848 I made a trip on horseback 
through a part of Howard, Cass and Carroll coun- 
ties to make the acquaintance of country merchants 
and persuade them to consign their grain to us. A 
great many farmers were clearing up their lands 



168 Pastime Sketches 

and raised but little surplus grain, not enough to 
justify them in hauling it twenty to twenty-five 
miles. Therefore, they would sell it to their nearby 
merchants who kept teams to haul it as fast as it ac- 
cumulated. My business was to induce these mer- 
chants to send their grain to us. I visited Kokomo, 
New London, Russiaville, and many small places 
that have since, no doubt, been converted into corn- 
fields. 

Kokomo had at that time, as I remember, four 
merchants, occupying the public square. There was 
but one tavern, a two-story frame building, painted 
white, and located away from the public square. 
There was but one two-story brick building, owned 
and occupied by David Foster, quite a prominent 
fur trader, and one of our regular customers. 

From 1848 to 1855 some new business firms were 
organized, and quite a number of new merchants lo- 
cated here. Some of these were Culbertson & Mc- 
Carty, dry goods, Culbertson afterward going 
into the hardware business. They were located 
on the southeast corner of Broadway and Fourth. 
John T. Musselman was north side of Market 
between Second and Third, Tanguy & Barnheisel, 
south side of Broadway between Fourth and Fifth. 
Business began moving eastward on Market street, 
Fourth street and Broadway, brick blocks were be- 
ing erected on Market, Fourth and both sides of 
Broadway between Fourth and Fifth. Bachman & 
Puterbaugh located on the north side of Broadway, 
in general merchandise business. T. C. Mitchell, 
boots and shoes, north side of Broadway. A. J. 
Murdock came in 1852. Henry Murdock in 1854. 
J. W. McCaughey, dry goods, south side of Broad- 
way. \Y. P. Thompson, dry goods, south side of 



Pastime Sketches 169 

Broadway. Brick blocks were erected on Broad- 
way by Dolan & McHale and Patterson & Tomlin- 
son. 

In 1848 J. C. Merriam sold out his interest in 
his store in Monticello to his partner, Mr. Reynolds, 
returned here, and purchased the interest of Cyrus 
Taber in the firm of Taber & Chase, and the firm 
of Chase, Merriam & Smith was organized. M. S. 
Butler had purchased a few years before, a lot on 
the north side of Market street between Fourth and 
Pearl streets, and erected thereon a brick block, con- 
taining two store rooms one of which he occupied 
himself. This was the block recently torn down by 
Dr. Jordan and replaced with one of four stories. 
Mr. Butler for some reason sold this building and 
removed his stock of goods west. 

One of these rooms being vacant at this time, 
it was leased by the new firm of Chase, Merriam & 
Smith, and they moved their stock of goods into it. 
In 1852, four years later, the firm of Wilson, Mer- 
riam & Co., was organized, the company being Mr. 
M. H. Thomas and myself. This firm purchased 
the interest of Colonel Philip Pollard in the firm of 
Pollard & Wilson, and the interest of Chase and 
Smith in the firm of Chase, Merriam & Smith, com- 
bining the two stocks. It also purchased the Butler 
building, removed the partition wall, converting the 
two rooms into one, and occupied it, together with 
the two floors above, and the two wings in the 
rear. 

In the years between 1840 and 1850 our mer- 
chants, while doing a good, safe and flourishing 
business were greatly handicapped for lack of bank- 
ing facilities. Exchange was scarce and high. Specie 
was often at a premium because silver and gold was 



170 Pastime Sketches 

the only money that could be used in entering land. 
The United States Land Office was located at Win- 
amac, twenty-five miles away. The roads were in 
their primitive state, receiving no attention except 
where bridges and corduroys were absolutely neces- 
sary to get along at all. The trip was usually made 
on horseback, the specie being carried in saddle 
bags. In those days of horseback transportation, a 
pair of saddle bags was a necessity, and were kept 
for sale at the saddler shop and some of the stores. 

The first railroad to reach our city was the New 
Castle and Richmond in 1855. It had its terminous 
on the south side of the Wabash river. The To- 
ledo, Wabash and Western, now the Wabash Val- 
ley, reached here in 1856. 

With a little incident that occurred in 1865, for- 
ty-two years ago, I will close. The merchants of 
Broadway, of whom there were many, on both 
sides of the street at that time, in their advertise- 
ments began to branch out into poetry. This was 
especially true of the firm of Bachman & Puter- 
baugh. To match them and keep up the reputation 
of Market street, in a spirit of fun and rivalry, the 
firm of which I was a member published a column 
advertisement in rhyme which I have put into a 
pamphlet for your entertainment. 

PAPER OF MR. JOSEPH PATTERSON READ BEFORE 

THE CASS COUNTY, INDIANA, HISTORICAL 

SOCIETY, MAY 17, 1907. 

The subject of roads, travel and transportation 
of merchandise is one that has interested the world 
at large perhaps to greater extent than any other. 
From the time that Adam and Eve began their 



Pastime Sketches 171 

tramp from the Garden of Eden until the citizens 
of Logansport undertook to pave North street, the 
cry of better roads and better means of traffic has 
agitated the public brain until it seems to have ex- 
hausted itself as to means by land and water and 
now is making rapid strides to traverse the unlim- 
ited space above the earth, which the streets of our 
city and the highways of our county are perfection, 
compared with the conditions sixty-three years ago 
when my observation began. About May 1st, A. D. 
1844, my father with his family in a wagon drawn 
by three horses, started near Miflin, Juniatta county, 
Pennsylvania, for the classic Wabash and Logans- 
port, and during the six weeks of continuous travel 
necessary to reach our goal, the only means of con- 
veyance we saw aside from stage coach wagons 
and horseback was a steamboat at Wheeling, W. 
Va., and one at Zaneville, O. The difference in the 
condition of the roads from our starting point to 
Indianapolis and from Indianapolis to Logansport 
was so great that we were eight days coming from 
the Capital city to this city via the Michigan road. 
That road at that time was the style of all the roads 
in Cass county, bridged nearly continuous with 
poles or rails. Much labor was lost on the road 
work because of the transient conditions. They 
were not permanently located and when a settler 
sought to establish his lines and corners it was no 
uncommon occurrence to take in a half mile of old 
road and the public was obliged to open another, 
and such conditions prevailed to a large extent un- 
til in the sixties and enough money and labor had 
been spent on the roads of Cass county had it been 
honestly and systematically applied to have every 
road in the county a substantial pike, and the team- 



172 Pastime Sketches 

ster would not have to stop his work or pay a fine 
for driving on the public highway which he has a 
perfect right to do. In 1844 and for many years 
after, the streets of the city were of original earth 
and during the springtime as the winter was pass- 
ing away, the streets in many places were impass- 
able. I saw a team of two yoke of oxen hauling a 
load of lumber stall, at the intersection of Sixth 
and North streets as late as 1853. The only means 
of conveyance previous to 1854 or 55 was by canal 
boat, stage coach, wagon and horseback. Farmers, 
unless they had hauling, always came to town on 
horseback, and it was an every day occurrence to 
see the wife or daughter of the farmer ride up to 
the hitching post, dismount, hitch the horse and go 
off, do her numerous errands and meet the greetings 
and smiles of all with whom she met; those were 
happy days, friendship and joy in health, and help 
and sympathy in sickness and distress. When a 
young man wanted to take his best girl to a gath- 
ering of any kind, he saddled up his horse, spread a 
sheep-skin back of his saddle, rode along a stump, 
fence or a log and the young lady would jump to 
her seat at his back and their trip began. These 
conditions as to roads prevailed up to about the 
year 1851, or 1852. About this date the subject of 
plank roads was introduced and the Michigan road, 
as it was called, was improved by the covering of 
the road with two-inch boards twelve feet long. 
This was done by grading the middle of the road 
to some degree of uniformity ; three pieces of square 
timber were laid lengthwise and the two-inch plank 
were spiked on. This made a very fair road for one 
or two years, then the plank began to split, break, 
curl up, rot and get loose, and it went to the bad 



Pastime Sketches 173 

much faster than it could be repaired and the traffic 
was diverted partly because it was a toll road, and 
also on account of the rough condition. This road 
reached to Fulton north and to Deer Creek south, 
and was tolerated until about 1867-1868, when the 
subject of gravel roads was introduced and a com- 
pany was organized both north and south of the city 
and the work was pushed with considerable vigor 
until the Michigan road was fairly well sanded ten 
miles to the north and seven to the south, since 
which time we are all familiar with the gravel roads 
of Cass county. The first substantial street im- 
provement was done in 1854, in which year Third 
street was ballasted with crushed stone and such 
improvement has spasmodically continued to the 
present date. About the year 1880-85 the old canal 
began to disappear, the high bridges had all been 
removed and the appearance of the city was much 
better. 

In the year 1854, the first locomotive appeared 
in our city. It came from the east on a flat canal 
boat, and was unloaded at what is now the south- 
west corner of Fifth and Broadway and hauled on 
a track of square hewed logs, by three yoke of oxen 
owned and driven by Sam Berryman, down Broad- 
way to Third and south on Third across the Wa- 
bash and placed on the track of the first railway 
built in Logansport, and when completed reached to 
Kokomo. The only remnant now visible is the pit 
for the turn-table, a square west of Burlington pike 
at the creamery, where the station and freight house 
was also located. 

During the summer of 1855 the grading was 
nearly completed by the Wabash railroad company. 
Piles were driven by horse power on the island; 



174 Pastime Sketches 

considerable work was done on abutments for the 
bridge and about the middle of March, 1856. the 
first locomotive of the Wabash railroad entered our 
city and was met by the band which escorted the of- 
ficials to the Cullen House, corner Second and Mar- 
ket streets, where they were entertained by a dance 
that night. During the summer of 1856, this road 
was completed to Lafayette, then ended the days 
of the stage coach between our city and Lafayette 
and also to Indianapolis. 

The next period of especial importance as to 
traffic was in the year of Dec. 6, 1882, when the 
street cars propelled by mule power was established 
by F. G. Jaques, and operated by him until the year 
1891, when his barns and car house, located north- 
east corner Eighteenth and Broadway, together 
with nearly all of his mules were destroyed by fire. 
The franchise then changed hands, and the system 
was changed from mule to electricity, and has ex- 
tended all over city and hooked on to the interurban 
and today we can get out of the city at any hour of 
the clay or night and go north, south, east and west 
and our brainy men have nearly completed a ship 
to travel in the yet unoccupied space above the 
earth, and we need not be surprised some morning 
to find a bill under our door announcing a cheap 
excursion next Sunday to the north pole. 

SECOND PUBLIC MEETING OF THE CASS COUNTY, INDI- 
ANA HISTORICAL SOCIETY, JUNE 28, 1907. 

The second public meeting of the Historical so- 
ciety at the Library June 28th was a success. Every 
chair was occupied and standing room was in de- 
mand. Judge D. P. Baldwin, president, called the 



Pastime Sketches 175 

meeting- to order and made a short address. He 
said that history can only be written one hundred 
years after the event, biography fifty years after the 
death of the subject. He thought that the present 
was productive of greater men than the past but 
that the fields of usefulness were changed ; that ge- 
nius was rather developed in finance, not so much 
in war or politics. He spoke of great men of finance 
who had startled the world by their genius in or- 
ganization. 

Vice President Powell took the chair, and an- 
nounced the regular program of the evening, also 
calling attention to the fact that the society would 
join with the Old Settlers in the picnic at Spencer 
Park, August 10th. He invited the public generally 
to become charter members, handing names to B. 
F. Sharts of the Logansport State Bank. He spoke 
of the appreciation of the music rendered at pre- 
vious meetings by the G. A. R. Glee club, and called 
upon the club for the first number. 

The first paper was by Mrs. Minnie York Bu- 
chanan, subject "Old Time Schools." She said she 
could hardly tell anything of the schools of the 
early days but would give her observations in 1865 
when she came to Logansport as a school teacher 
after teaching in New York. 

Wils Berry followed with a chalk talk on the 
costumes of 1864 illustrating with twenty or more 
rapidly drawn sketches. Mr. Berry exhibited a ver- 
satility surprising to many who were not familiar 
with his talent. There was a rush for his drawings 
after adjournment and all were carried away to be 
preserved as souvenirs. 

After music by the Glee club W. T. Gifre fol- 



176 Pastime Sketches 

lowed with the last paper of the evening, subject 
"Early Music." 

PAPER READ BY MRS. MINNIE YORK BUCHANAN 

BEFORE THE CASS COUNTY, INDIANAHISTORICAL, 

SOCIETY, JUNE 28, 1907. 

"The schools of the olden time had the same 
common branches that we have today, but they had 
schoolmasters and schoolmarms, and the penknife 
was very essential to their equipment, not only to 
make and mend the goose-quill pens with which to 
write the copy 'Be good if you would be happy,' 
but also to point up and down the black ladder of 
the alphabet, as they listened to the prolonged 
sound of a-b-c and the promise from the pretty pink 
aproned schoolma-m, 'you may take your knife a 
little while if you will remember that letter has 
charmed it,' and many of its neighbors into mem- 
ory. 

"They did not remain seated during recitations 
in the olden times, but came to the class and stood 
in a line facing the teacher and 'toed the mark.' At 
10:30 the teacher would say 'now the girls may go 
out.' In five minutes she would rap on the window 
(and those windows rattle) and call them in, then 
the boys could go out. This was recess. 

"In the old olden time many of the school houses 
were built of logs with planks around the sides of 
the wall for desks and long benches for seats, with- 
out backs. And those desks and seats were often 
deeply furrowed with the sharp blade handled by 
some sharper 'Yankee blade.' 

"But this olden time was long before 1865. Lo- 
gansport then was a busy, energetic, enterprising 



Pastime Sketches 177 

place. In my memory are three events that will 
ever remain vivid, my arrival in Logansport, a drive 
in the country a day of two after, and in connection 
with the city schools, the superintendency of T. B. 
Helms. During the year mentioned I was engaged 
in teaching in western New York, but anticipated a 
visit to Logansport in the early fall, as my friends 
had written me of the excellent wages paid teachers 
here. I had considered remaining a year at least. 
I had many discouraging statements from others 
who thought it a wild idea, and some of the older 
teachers had been in Indiana and visited the schools 
and reported them way below par compared with 
ours, said that they used different words to express 
things ; that I would have to learn why they call a 
pail a bucket, a tin pail with handle, a bucket, and 
they would conclude with 'You'll be home in three 
weeks.' They failed to tell me, if they knew, that 
they had the fever and ague. New Yorkers had a 
dread of that, as I had seen some who had returned 
from Michigan and was shocked at their ghastly 
appearance and slow recovery. "I surely would 
not have come to Indiana had I known it was sub- 
ject to it. But I arrived one evening in September 
in a pouring rain. I think I was the only one to 
leave the train of two coaches. I could see no one, 
no conveyance. I concluded I must be a way out 
of the city. Just as I was wondering where the 
people were, a man came in from somewhere and 
asked: 'Do you want the bus?' I certainly did. 
Those were my instructions, to take the bus. When 
I arrived at my destination they came from the 
door to the bus with umbrellas, to meet me. I was 
feeling somewhat depressed. When I retired to my 
room it was warm and the window was lowered. I 



178 Pastime Sketches 

could hear the oeople passing and it was soon evi- 
dent I was near a physician's office from the re- 
peated calls for the doctor and the conversations. 
This continued so late I thought, is every one sick. 
In the morning I found I was next door to Drs. 
Taylor & Shultz's office. I stepped out to look over 
the city— was not disappointed in anything, but the 
size, a city, and not as large as our village of Canan- 
daigua, N. Y., then I remembered that it required 
10,000 for a city charter in New York and only I 
think 3,000 in Indiana, at that time. 

"I soon began to meet people and I was so 
pleased with them, and they were all so interested 
in the schools and the normal that had been hold- 
ing four weeks, I think this, was the closing week, 
and they all seemed to regret that if I thought of 
teaching I had not been able to attend. But I 
felt confident if I could pass the examination and 
teach in New York, I surely could here. I was en- 
joying myself and feeling it would be just the thing 
to remain, when I got a shock. I said to one of the 
young ladies, Ts there much sickness?' There was 
an incessant going and coming from that doctor's 
office last night.' 'Yes,' she said, 'it has been a very 
rainy season and many are having the chills." I did 
know what that was but when she described it I 
was terrified, why that is the fever and ague, I 
thought. I would not have that wretched disease for 
all the schools. I would make my stay short in 
Logansport. But I did not see any one who was 
afflicted and it passed my mind, meeting so many 
more pleasant and intelligent people. 

"I was told we would take a drive in the country 
the next morning. Of course I was delighted. It 
seemed it was on business and the roads would be 



Pastime Sketches 1 79 

bad. but we would go prepared with two horses. I 
expected mud, but a mile or so from the city we 
went into the roads. I never dreamed that people 
ever attempted to drive through such places. We 
did not see any road, nothing but water and holes, 
and the horses lunging and plunging. I expected 
every moment they would break loose from the ve- 
hicle, and leave us sitting there, and perhaps not in 
the vehicle. However, we returned without any 
accident. I shall never forget it. I met more de- 
lightful people, and said I would like to attend the 
normal. I had not met any one who was attending 
and I had not been brave enough to go alone. Some 
of them called for me in the morning, and I must 
say I was surprised at the work being done. It was 
in every way up to the standard I had been accus- 
tomed to, if not more thorough and systematic. 
They had fine instructors from other cities, who 
were advising and testing the applicants. I soon 
found it was a special drill for teachers and decided 
that every teacher could not teach school in Lo- 
gansport. I began to think of the examination to 
be held the next day and said to one of my friends, 
'I wish I knew how it is to be held, written or oral. 
I feel so strange. I may get nervous and fail.' If 
that's what you wish to know ask Mr. Helms ; he 
will tell you.' I thought that would be presuming 
and expected a cool reception, but if you will permit 
the expression I was never so pleasantly disap- 
pointed. I met such an affable, courteous, kind 
gentleman, willing and frank in telling me how the 
examination would be conducted. I shall never 
forget him. But I had not allowed my name to go 
before the board until I was sure of my license and 
I was too late. The board was very considerate and 



180 Pastime Sketches 

kind but I did not expect any farther recognition 
from it. Yet in a day or two they called and 
told me that Prof. Brophy has been employed as 
principal in the seminary and they would give him 
my name as assistant. So I was employed as Prof. 
Brophy's assistant. The board at that time was 
D. D. Pratt, Charles Knowlton, Joseph McCaughey. 
"At the seminary there were three departments — 
primary, intermediate and the sixth reader grade. 
Prof. Brophy's room. There was no 7a or 8a, very 
few manuscript questions were asked and answered 
and the pupils in the intermediate rooms were just 
as anxious to get to the sixth reader grade, as I 
presume they are now to reach the high school. I 
am sure the schools of Logansport in 1865 were 
much in advance of many older towns." 

PAPER READ BY MR. W. T. GIEFE BEEORE THE CASS 

COUNTY, INDIANA, HISTORICAL SOCIETY 

JUNE 28, 1907. 

It seems to me that the task of writing a paper 
on the old-time singing school of Cass county should 
have been assigned to an older head, one having a 
personal knowledge of the local history of this one 
time popular institution for vocal cultivation and 
social gatherings. 

When the pioneer singing school was in flower 
its scepter was a steel tuning-fork and its preceptor 
a peripatetic singing master upon whom Polyhym- 
nia, the Muse of Singing Harmony, was supposed to 
have bestowed her rarest gift. 

The pioneer singing school followed closely 
upon the march of the pioneer citizen and helped to 
imbue the sparse population with the spirit of both 
material and spiritual progress. 



Pastime Sketches 181 

In those days nearly every country neighbor- 
hood, village and small town had, at some time dur- 
ing the year (generally during the winter), a sing- 
ing school, at which a series or term of singing les- 
sons was taught in some local church or district 
school house. 

These singings were usually held on Sunday aft- 
ernoon, or on one or two evenings during the week. 

If I am correctly informed, the first singing book 
used in Cass county was the "Missouri harmony." 
In fact I believe it is a matter of history that this 
was the first singing book used in Indiana, and that 
its use was quite general. It was written in what 
was called "buckwheat" notes, the notes being 
named by the shape and not the position on the staff 
as now. The system of notation employed in this 
book had a tetrachord of four syllables — fa, so, la, 
mi — which was repeated to form the scale. It was 
called the system of the "Buckwheat Notes," be- 
cause, in their different shapes, some of the notes 
resembled grains of buckwheat. 

After this book and its system had passed, the 
scale syllables running from Do to Do, as we now 
have them, were introduced along with the "round 
notes," which are now almost in exclusive use. 

In the days of the pioneer singing school the lo- 
cal conditions were very primitive and crude, as we 
view them now. The farms of cultivated lands were 
as small and scattered as are the timber tracts of 
the present day in Indiana. Forests and wild game 
abounded in every direction. Preachers and coon 
dogs were in about equal demand and commanded 
about the same price. 

Such was the environment of the old-time sing- 
ing school and it is no wonder that strange notions 



182 Pastime Sketches 

should find their way into the minds of the sing- 
ers. Some of the ladies in that day prided them- 
selves on their supposed ability to sing tenor, while 
others with a coarser voice — box would essay the 
roll of bass. In like manner there were gay Loth- 
arios who insisted on sitting with the sopranos and 
singing "air" with might and main. 

In a recent article in the Indiana Magazine of 
History, Benjamin S. Parker, the poet sage of New 
Castle, in speaking of this subject, says: 

"The singing schools of fifty and sixty years ago, 
in this state, were not confined to Sundays, as the 
master, in many cases, found it best to have two or 
three singing schools on hand at the same time. 
Several masters were often running schools in the 
same neighborhood, and between these schools 
there was considerable emulation, which sometimes 
led to a joint meeting where the rival classes, under 
the leadership of their respective teachers, contest- 
ed for superiority. The singers were chosen very 
much as the spellers at the spelling matches. 
Judges were selected who were to listen to all the 
contests and award the honors. The first class to 
sing stood and sang two selections, first the notes 
and then the words. The second class, in like man- 
ner, sang the same selections, and then two more. 
The first class then sang the latter airs and two new 
ones, and so on until the contests closed. 

"In the midst of every afternoon school there 
was a recess, which was made good use of by old 
and young. For pure and wholesome social enjoy- 
ment few recreations surpassed the old country 
singing school, and there, at the same time, were 
trained many sweet singers for the local churches, 
as well as the homes. 



Pastime Sketches 183 

"In the older books the parts were arranged for 
treble, or air, answering to the modern soprano, 
and sung by men as well as women ; tenor, or 
double air, for both men and women, and bass for 
men. Baritone and alto were not used. Among 
the books in use, other than the 'Missouri Har- 
mony," were the 'Christian Psalmist,' the 'Sacred 
Melodeon,' two or three of Dr. Lowell Mason's 
books (which used the Guidonian system), several 
of A. D. Filmore's books, and a number of others. 
The usual charges in these schools were fifty to 
seventy-five cents per pupil for a term of twelve 
lessons, and at these rates the classes not infre- 
quently tested the holding capacities of the rooms 
where they met. 

"So attractive were these singing school that a 
large percentage of the young Quakers of fifty 
years ago persisted in taking part in them, despite 
all the restraints imposed by their people, and to 
that fact is largely due the changed attitude of the 
second generation of Friends toward the study of 
music." 

The popular instruments of those days were the 
violin, flute and melodeon, and in occasional in- 
stances some one of these was used in- the singing 
school and glee club by the teacher. However, all 
these instruments were generally barred from the 
church buildings, and could only be used at the pri- 
vate homes and some of the school houses. 

The limits of this paper preclude any disserta- 
tion on the great social and educational advantages 
which the old singing schools, in most instances, 
brought to the communities where they were 
taught. 

The passing of the singing school is to be great- 



184 Pastime Sketches 

ly regretted. Its going has left a void in the musi- 
cal life of the country places that is not easy to fill. 
Perhaps the revolving cycle of our institutional life 
may yet return to the coming generations a modi- 
fied form of the old-time singing school. Let us 
hope that it will. 

PAPER PREPARED BY MR. HARRY BRINGHURST FOR 
THE CASS COUNTY, INDIANA, HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

The following fire department history was com- 
piled for the Cass County Historical Society by 
Harry W. Bringhurst, Chief of the Fire Depart- 
ment, Seattle, Washington, who was born in Lo- 
gansport, and was for many years a resident of the 
city. It covers the period of the Volunteers, up to 
the date of the paid department. Prominent citi- 
zens risked their lives for the good of the commun- 
ity and their deeds are worthy of preservation. 
While the paid department is equally worthy of 
mention no records are available. 

Public meeting to organize fire company Jan. 11, 
1836, in consequence of excitement over great fire 
in New York, Dec. 16, 1835. G. T. Bostwick. chair- 
man ; J. B. Dillon, secretary. Nothing came of it. 

June 21, 1837, fire blacksmith shop of Hines & 
McElheny on Fourth, opposite present court house. 

Oct. 6, 1837, D. Patrick's cabinet shop burned. 

(North side Broadway between Second and Third.) 

Feb. 12, 1838, fire in "Logansport Exchange," 

two-story saloon just south of Washington Hall 

(Barnett House) ; hard work to save latter. 

Aug. 10, 1839, Jas. Storms' cabinet shop. Canal 
street, near Second. 

Nov. 9. 1844, frame brewery building Curt Fmer- 



Pastime Sketches 185 

son, on Berkley street, north of Canal, partially de- 
stroyed. 

Nov. 27, 1846, fire in Washington Hall ; hard 
work with line of buckets from Wabash river. 

Dec. 5, 1846, ordinance appointed G. N. Fitch 
fire warden. 

Feb. 17, 1849, Saddlery shop, Jas. Kintner, dam- 
aged dwelling of Chauncey Carter across alley, 
Market between Second and Third. 

March 21, 1849, house of Samuel McElheny, 
Seventh between North and High. 

June 13, 1853, S. B. Kendrick's slaughter house, 
$1,000. 

Jan. 4, 1854, Klein's Brewery; total loss $1,800. 

First ordinance established fire department 
passed Feb. 1, 1854. T. H. Bringhurst, mayor. 

First regular fire company Summit No. 1, or- 
ganized Feb. 4, 1854. 

Election of officers above, Feb. 6, president, T. 
H. Bringhurst ; vice president, Jas. Rodgers ; secre- 
tary, S. L. McFadin ; treasurer, H. Black. Direc- 
tors, David Johnson, Dan'l Mull, B. Z. Burch, Ed- 
gar Parsons, W. T. S. Manly, J. N. Tousley. 

General Tipton fire company, No. 2, organized 
Feb. 6, 1854: President, J. B. Eldridge ; vice presi- 
dent, R. F. Groves; secretary, J. G. Douglas; treas- 
urer, Ed Fishel. Directors, N. G. Scott, W. D. Ran- 
dall, T. P. McCrea, Chas. Barrett, Judge Groves, 
J. B. Eldridge. 

First engine (hand) came from Hunneman & 
Co., Boston, June, 1854. First fire on which it 
worked, June 23, 1854, across Sixth street bridge. 
This was "Summit." 

Tipton hand engine arrived Aug. 2?, 1854, on 



186 Pastime Sketches 

canal boat "Silver Bell." Tested Aug. 30, 1854. Sum- 
mit cost $700; Tipton $805. 

First large fire Geo. Cecil's cooper shop at aque- 
duct, loss $3,200, Nov. 8, 1854. Engines worked 10 
p. m. to 3 a. m. 

Summit and Tipton engine houses built by July, 
1855. 

Jan. 5,' 1856, great fire on Market street, from 
three-story brick at 308 Market street to alley on 
east. Very cold morning. Engines pumped from 
Wabash river. Shoe and hardware store and vari- 
ous buildings. One man (Dale) seriously hurt. 
Nick Smith's stove store, Dr. McCrea's office dam- 
aged. Jos. Dale hip dislocated and head injured. 

July 4, 1856, Logansport engine went to Lai'ay- 
ette and beat the engine there. 

July 4, 1857, hand engine "Kossuth" came up 
from Lafayette to the railroad celebration and beat 
the Tipton. 

Dec. 25, 1858, fire burned roof off of Cecil's 
"Forest Mill" at 3 a. m. ; fine work by engines saved 
mill; loss $3,028. 

June, 1859, Summit and Tipton fire bells re- 
ceived from Cincinnati. 

Dec. 20, 1859, fire at McElheny's tannery north 
of aqueduct, 6:30 p. m. Summit company worked six 
hours, thermometer at zero. 

Feb. 16, 1860, fire at E. Walker's house on North 
street (Craig's) ; loss $500. 

Aug. 6, 1861, fire at J. M. Keeps' lumber yard 
at 2 :30 a. m., south of canal. Very hot fire. While 
firemen taking up hose fire broke out in Knowlton 
& Obenchain's foundry to the west. Catholic 
church endangered. Loss about $10,000. 

July 14, 1862, fire on canal north of Broadway, 



Pastime Sketches 187 

burned McElheny carriage shop and Bevan's car- 
penter shop. 

March 20, 1864, G. W. Scantling burned in his 
house on Berkley street. 

Oct. 24, 1864, sash and door factory burned on 
canal between Broadway and North. 

Aug. 8, 1865, fire burned A. M. Goodwin's gro- 
cery, also stores of Hicks & Connolly and E. T.. 
Stevens. 

Dec. 15, 1865. alarm for boiler explosion at 
Knowlton's foundry ; four boys and a girl killed ; 
several injured. 

Dec. 22, 1865, Dr. Farquhar's house burned at 
North and Ninth. 

Jan. 16, 1866, fire Fourth between Market and 
Broadway, burned out Conrad's, Keeps' Rosenthal's 
and Frank's. 

March 20, 1867, two fires in night one on 
"Point," one in "Browntown." 

June 20, 1868, house burned by owner on what 
is now Heath street. 

Oct. 8, 1868, fire burned large double house on 
Fitch, between George and Canal. 

Feb. 3, 1869, fire Mrs. Courtney's house, West 
Logan. 

Oct. 27, 1869, B. H. Smith building, Hicks, El- 
liott & Shroyer ; loss several hundred. Building 
saved. Good work. 

Jan. 5, 1870, Silsby rotary steamer "Chauncey 
Carter" bought. Arrived Feb. 3, 1870. 

Officers fire companies January, 1870: 

Tipton — President, C. B. KnoAvlton ; vice presi- 
dent, Geo. Bevan ; secretary, S. B. Boyer ; treasurer, 
G. J. Groves. Directors, G. W. Brown, J. F. Carney, 



18S Pastime Sketches 

Jas. Foley, H. G. Fetter, M. Schneeberger, Jno. 
Murphy. 

Summit — Foreman, S. T. Weirick ; assistant 
foreman, D. H. Mull; secretary, D. Comingore; 
treasurer, D. Redd. 

Feb. 10, 1870, big fire, engine saved town; 11:30 
p. m. Fourth, south of Market, back of "round cor- 
ner" grocery, two saloons, barber shop, doctor's 
office, stables, etc. ; loss $9,000. 

March 18, 1870, Krug & Russell's tin store, 
Guthrie's clothing store Fourth street. 

July 8, 1870, Messinger & Bevan's dry kiln early 
morning; loss $1,500. 

Tipton hand engine turned over to the Cham- 
pion company in spring. 

Jan. 1, 1871, John Gallagher's house burned in 
Browntown ; Reuben Gharis badly injured. 

Feb. 28, 1871. Three fires in one night, last one 
2:30 a. m. Paul Taber's stable, rear of Pennsylvania 
house. 

April 10, 1871, Independent Hose organized. J. 
H. Ivens, foreman ; H. J. Larimer and W. Reed, as- 
sistants. 

April 20, 1871, fire at Lock Foundry. (This was 
night of Slater murder.) 

May 9, 1871, F. D. paraded laying corner stone 
Smithson College. 

May 23, 1871, large fire 1 p. m., back of Judge 
Stuart's house. Broadway, several stables and 
houses. 

Rev. Post distinguished himself saving horses, 
etc. 

July 29, 1871, Kahlo Von Behren & Co.. spoke 
factory, Toledo street ; loss $1,200; factory saved. 



Pastime Sketches 189 

Sept. 13, 1871, first report council favoring water 
works. 

Oct. 22, 1871, fire at gas works on Sunday morn- 
ing ; great excitement over fires all the month. 

Chicago fire Oct. 9. 

May 2, 1872, R. S. Miller stone works on Duret 
& Messinger, Brosius' pump factory burned ; loss 
$7,000. Jas. Viney and other firemen nearly killed 
by falling floor. Good work. 

May 16, 1872, freight cars burned in Panhandle 
yard, nearly a panic in Forepaugh's show on "Dam 
fields." 

Aug. 9, 1872, "Carter" sent to a $15,000 fire at 
New Waverly. 

Chiefs -of fire department : 1856-58, Thos. H. 
Bringhurst. 1859-1868, Geo. Bevan. 1869, Jos. 
Green. 1870, Zophar Hunt. 1871, Allen Richardson. 
1872-73, Jos. Green, 1874, Geo. Bevan. 1875, Geo. 
Bevan and J. F. Long. Geo. Bevan died in 1875 and 
T. H. Bringhurst elected to fill vacancy and reor- 
ganize department, retiring in favor of Carney, 1876, 
Jas. F. Carney. 1877, Jas. F. Carney. 1878, Jas. F. 
Carney. 1879, H. J. Larimer. 1880, H. J. Larimer. 

First mention of H. & L. Company, election of 
officers Jan. 5, 1869. Geo. Kuns, president ; J. H. 
Ivens, vice president. 

Champion Fire Company organized at Seminary 
Oct. 13, 1869. 

H. & L. No. 2 (Browntown) organized Jan. 14 
and 19, 1871. Dennis Uhl foreman; D. R. Miller, 
vice foreman. 

Jan. 31, 1865, "Grand supper" given at court 
house by the firemen, also "Grand Ball" at Part- 
ridge Hall. Proceeds $346.75 turned over by fire- 



190 Pastime Sketches 

men to J. C. Merriam, treasurer Relief Society, for 
the benefit of soldiers' families. 

The volunteers were at their best 1871 and 1875. 
The star year was 1873. 

Oct. 17, 1872, 9 a. m., large fire burned stables 
of A. J. Murdock. Sisters' Academy, Dr. Mat- 
thews' and other buildings. Lively fight between 
Tiptons and Independents for "first water." Many 
residences endangered. 

Nov. 17, 1872, 9 p. m., fire at Layton House also 
Panhandle depot. Very cold. 

Dec. 11, 1872, Champion company elected Rod- 
ney Strain foreman. Fifty active members. 

Feb. 3, 1873, Froster building on Sycamore 
street. 

March 2, 1873, Canal street, school house. 

March 10. 1873, Campbell's livery and other 
stables, Sixth, between Market and Broadway. 

April 23, 1873, frame row north side of Broad- 
way, west of Keystone building, Sixth street. John- 
ston & Crook's, A. M. Goodwin, T. R. McElheny, 
Gans & Rosenberg, V. C. Hanawalt ; loss $4,000. 
Independents got first water. 

May 18, 1873, Old Cheney saw mill at Point, 
also R. D. Stevens' planing mill. Mill built in 1845. 

May 22, 1873, Uhl barns and stables in Brown- 
town. 

July 2, 1873, Clapp & Jones' steamer bought. 

July 5, 1873, stables of J. J. Pucerbaugh, Rev. 
Sparks, Female College, hard fight to save Merri- 
am's stable and residence. All engines got water 
from Methodist church cistern. 

July 7, 1873. Weyands and other stables, Brown- 
town. 

July 15, 1873, Tenth street school house. 



Pastime Sketches 191 

Aug. 22, 1873. stables of Mrs. Farquhar, D. Pat- 
rick, Chas. Horning, Jas. Wilson (Broadway, North, 
Second and Third.) Hard work to save dwellings, 
Jos. Ivens and other firemen injured. Andrew 
Schaffer, of Summit company, mentioned for brav- 
ery. 

Aug. 25, 1873, Jas. L. Baldwin's distillery, north 
side of Eel river, opposite Eighth street. 

Aug. 25, 1873, stables of John Sammis, T. C. 
Mitchell. Geo. Horn, Airs. McElheny, Mrs. S. A. 
Hall, H. C. Thornton. Two houses badly damaged. 
Great excitement over incendiaries. 

Sept. 22, 1873, trial of "Champion" engine. 

Sept. 24, 1873, Summit company disbanded be- 
cause new str. given to Champions. 

Sept. 26, 1873, "Logan Fire company" organized 
from old members of Summit. Jas. Henderson fore- 
man ; thirty members. 

Nov. 16, 1873, stables in rear of St. ELmo hotel 
and Elliott, P. & Shroyer, incendiary. 

Dec. 2, 1873, Michaels' millinery store ; loss 
about $15,000. Supposed incendiary. Adams build- 
ing on Fourth between Market and Broadway. 

March 4, 1874, dwelling on North between Four- 
teenth and Fifteenth, occupied by J. G. Meek and 
Ed Strong. 

March 22, 1874, stables of Lewis Diehl, J. B. 
Eldridge, Hugh Ward, Market between First and 
Second ; loss $2,000. Incendiary. 

April 1, 1874, Eureka fire company in Brown- 
town, recognized; has old Tipton hand engine. 

April 27, 1874, midnight, stables of J. Kraut, 
Wm. Dolan, Barnett House, Barnett ice house, 
Bruggaman's shop, extended to large brick livery 
stable of Ed Anderson and houses of Dolan, Kraut 



192 Pastime Sketches 

and Bruggaman ; loss $12,000. Incendiary. High 
wind. Horses on Champion engine ; the first fire 
at which horses were used. 

May 5, 1874, celebration fire department twen- 
tieth anniversary. Parade, picnic, speeches by Judge 
Chase and Col. Bringhurst. Grand ball at night, 
Dolan's opera house. 

June 16, 1874. Grusenmyer's wagon shop, "Ta- 
bertown." 

Oct. 30, 1874, stables of David Miller and E. T. 
Stevens' residences, both damaged ; loss $3,400. 

Jan. 20, 1875, partial alarm telegraph system 
provided for connecting Tipton and Champion en- 
gine houses. 

Feb. 28, 1875, funeral of Chief Geo. Bevan ; very 
cold and stormy day. All the fire department out. 

March 9, 1875, large tenement house near round 
house ; loss $2,500. 

March 10, 1875, barn and shop of A. D. Pack- 
ard, the latter severely burned. 

March 11, 1875, roof and upper story of large 
frame boarding house, east side Sixth, between 
Market and Broadway, Musselman. Firemen had 
narrow escape. 

March 23, 1875, Enterprise fire company organ- 
ized on Southside. 

March 6, 1875, Twenty-first anniversary cele- 
bration. Parade, fire companies from Peru, Delphi, 
Kokomo, Noblesville, Tipton, Frankfort, Muncie. 
Horse races. Grand ball. 

May 15, 1875, Independent company elected 
Robt. R. Bringhurst foreman, H. J. Larimer as- 
sistant. 

May 19, 1875, all the stables in center of block 
North and High, Fourth and the Canal. Damaged 



Pastime Sketches 193 

residences of McTaggart, Wilson and Harwood. A 
hot and dangerous fire, 11 :30 a. m. 

June 16, 1875, Silsby horse hose cart bought for 
Champion Co. 

July 3, 1875, entertainment by Independent com- 
pany, Dolan's opera house. 

July 29, 1875, roof and upper floor of Lincoln 
foundry, southeast corner High street and Canal. 
J. H. Tucker plow handle factory, 10 p. m. Large 
fire ; loss about $12,000. 

Aug. 20, 1875, Canal water supply so unreliable ; 
other measures tried. Much discussion on water 
works. 

Nov. 17, 1875, contracts concluded for water 
works. 

Jan. 1, 1876, Logan company elected Geo. Leroy 
foreman ; Frank Comingore, secretary. 

Jan. 1, 1876, Dan Comingore stables, Broadway, 
between Eighth and Ninth. 

Feb. 14, 1876, Independent company masquerade 
ball, Dolan and McHale's hall. 

April 6, 1876, Jno. Jackson house on High street ; 
loss $700. 

June 4, 1876, fire department out at funeral of 
Councilman Hugh Ward. 

July 4, 1876, fire department in parade. 

Aug. 4, 1876, first water pumped into water 
works' mains. 

Oct. 3, 1876, first fire at which water works 
used ; small fire on Fourth, near North. 

Oct. 5, 1876, midnight, two houses burned on 
Canal, Twelfth street, near Point ; water works 
streams used. 

Oct. 6, 1876, 5 a. m., Keeport's Lime office and 
Rhoads stable, Market and Sixth. 



194 Pastime Sketches 

Nov. 8, 1876, 2 a. m., election night, livery stable, 
Ingram Bros., Mrs. Anderson's and other stables. 
Lively fire, Sixth street. 

Dec. 5, 1876, test of water works. Much talk of 
reorganizing fire department. 

Jan. 17, 1877, council bought Richmond fire 
alarm system in spite of protests. 

April 1, 1877, Tipton company went to big fire 
Converse, Ind. 

April 3, 1877, final test of water works. 

April 6, 1877, fire alarm tel. accepted. 

April 8, 1877, 11:30 p. m.. fire in block Market, 
Canal, Fourth anl Fifth, burned various stables 
and other buildings. Fire alarm telegraph did not 
work ; delay in getting water pressure ; a lively 
and dangerous fire. 

May 5, 1877, noon, fire at "Castle," residence of 
D. P. Baldwin, Mrs. Whiting's boarding house ; 
good work ; much excitement. 

May 30, 1877, jury disagreed in case of Jas. Fin- 
negan for setting big fire of April 8. 

June 3, 1877, two houses burned New Jerusalem. 

July 10, 1877, Griner and Ouealy stables and 
house near Point. 

July 11, 1877, funeral of Curt Hutson, Indepen- 
dent company. 

Jan. 1, 1878, fire in Mrs. McCarty's house on 
Market, between Sixth and Seventh ; great water 
loss. 

Jan. 6, 1878. "Store on Wheels" Clem Kern on 
canal bed and Broadway. 

Jan. 6, 1878, Cement pipe works near Peoria. 

March 30, 1878, fire department out to funeral 
of Tos. Green, ex-chief. 



Pastime Sketches 195 

May 8, 1878, twenty-fourth anniversary celebra- 
tion, parade, races, etc. 

Tune 23, 1878, 5 a. m., several stables between 
North, High, Sixth and Seventh. Trouble as to 
pressure. 

July 4, 1878, fire department paraded. 

Aug. 18, 1878, Westside engine house struck by 
lightning, much damage. 

Aug. 19, 1878, fire department paraded funeral 
W. Fornoff. 

Dec. 4, 1878, "City Mills" on Hamilton race, 
owned by Sol Jones and Robt. Ray ; loss $10,000. 
Hose laid from Third and Canal ; hot fire. 

Jan. 21, 1879, Collision and fire Peoria Junction. 

March 23, 1879, two houses burned on Toledo 
near Twelfth. 

May 14, 1879, Stuart residence; loss $500. 

July 24, 1879, Cronise's feed stable. Sixth street, 
R. C. Taylor and other stables. 

Nov. 1, 1879, 8:45 p. m., Spiker & Harrison 
wagon factory, south side Toledo near Fourteenth. 
Disastrous fire ; little pressure because rebuilding 
water works' dam; loss $40,000; insurance $16,000; 
started paint shop. 

Nov. 5, 1879, council adopted resolution of Chas. 
Knight providing for paid fire department. H. J. 
Larimer, chief. 

PAPER PREPARED BY MR. W. S. WRIGHT FOR THE 
CASS COUNTY, INDIANA HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

The newspapers of a city always reflect the 
city's enterprise and intelligence. Logansport has 
been a prominent newspaper center since the organ- 
ization of the state and a brief sketch of newspaper 
history may be interesting. 



196 Pastime Sketches 

There are several complete files of the news- 
papers of Logansport and they speak for them- 
selves. The county histories also contain sketches 
of the earlier publications so that this branch of 
local history is well covered. Briefly it may be said 
that Logansport claims the first newspaper printed 
in northern Indiana. It was issued on Saturday, 
August 15, 1829, and the office was on the south 
side of Market street between Fourth and Fifth 
streets, on the alley. The type and press were 
brought in on an ox wagon and it took another 
wagon to bring in the name, which was the Potta- 
watomie and Miami Times. The paper was founded, 
edited and published by John Scott. Owing to the 
difficulties connected with pioneer journalism the 
paper, which was a weekly, did not appear every 
week. It is noted that a new volume, commenced 
on the 10th of November, 1831, the name being 
changed to The Cass County Times, was not com- 
pleted until twenty-six months later, it taking that 
length of time to get out the first fifty-two copies 
of the supposed weekly. John Scott was a pioneer 
printer, having commenced the publication of the 
Inquirer at Brookville, Franklin county, Indiana, in 
1815 and of the Weekly Intelligencer at Richmond 
in 1820. Later he founded the Western Emporium 
at Centerville, in the same county, which he con- 
ducted until he moved to Logansport in 1829. James 
B. Scott, later the editor of the Delphi Journal, set 
the first type for the new Logansport paper. May 
30, 1833, James B. Scott and William J. Burns be- 
came the owners of the paper and the name was 
again changed to the Logansport Republican and 
Indiana Herald. This name proved too heavy and 
publication ceased December 11th, of the same year. 



Pastime Sketches 197 

The Canal Telegraph made its appearance Jan. 
2, 1834, a month after the Herald suspended, hav- 
ing purchased the type and material used by the 
Herald. Stanislaus Laselle was its founder and on 
the 16th of August John B. Dillon became asso- 
ciate editor and publisher. In November the name 
was changed to The Logansport Canal Telegraph 
and in 1836 it became The Logansport Telegraph. 
This paper suspended publication March 24, 1849, 
and its good will and fixtures were bought by 
Thomas H. Bringhurst and Thomas Douglass, who 
continued the publication under the name of The 
Logansport Journal, the first issue appearing April 
20, 1849. In that year Williamson Wright was 
nominated for congress by the Whigs against Gra- 
ham N. Fitch, who had been first elected in 1847. 
The Whigs had no organ and the fixtures of the 
Telegraph were bought by Williamson Wright, 
and T. H. Bringhurst was installed as editor. Mr. 
Bringhurst was a cabinet maker and had never 
been inside of a newspaper office. He protested 
against the selection of himself as editor but final- 
ly yielded. The wisdom of the selection soon be- 
came apparent and Mr. Bringhurst continued as ed- 
itor until 1861, when he enlisted in the Civil war 
and rose to the rank of colonel, being first appointed 
major of the Forty-sixth Indiana by Governor 
Morton. He was mustered out in 1865 and re- 
turned to The Journal, continuing as editor until 
1869. when he was appointed special agent of the 
postoffice department. Previous to his. connection 
with The Journal, in May, 1846, he enlisted in the 
First Regiment, Indiana Volunteers, Mexican war 
and served under General Taylor, returning to Lo- 
gan sport in 1847. 



198 Pastime Sketches 

Joseph Dague purchased a half interest in The 
Journal in 1863 and continued with Air. Bringhurst 
until January, 1870, when it was sold to Z. and W. 
C. Hunt, who conducted it for two years, selling a 
half interest to Joseph Dague in 1873. D. P. Bald- 
win purchased a third interest in 1874 and another 
third in 1875. During most of this time, while Mr. 
Bringhurst was absent during the Civil war, and at 
other times, James T. Bryer was the editor and he 
continued in that capacity for many years, until 
1888. In 1882 William D. Pratt became sole owner 
and in 1876, January 1st, started the daily Journal, 
changing the weekly to a semi-weekly. C. B. Lan- 
dis, W. K. Landis and R. A. Brown were city edi- 
tors during this time. 

The Journal changed ownership again in 1891. 
The Logansport Journal Co. was incorporated that 
year by a number of Logansport republicans, J. 
C. Hadley, A. R. Shroyer, A. Hardv, S. B. Boyer, 
B. F. Keesling, Bert G. Small, Will R. Small and 
W. S. Wright were directors, with W. S. Wright 
president and managing editor, Bert G. Small, city 
editor and Will R. Small business manager. This 
organization remained in control seven years, Bert 
G. Small and Will R. Small retired in 1895 to publish 
the Saturday Night Review and W. S. Wright be- 
came an officer in the Spanish-American war in 
1898. D. W. Tomlinson and Thomas and Chas. 
Torr bought The Journal in that year and contin- 
ued it until 1902, when Keesling & Metzger Bros, 
(incorporated) purchased it. A. R. Keesling be- 
came managing editor, E. F. Metzger. business 
manager, and H. C. Metzger, advertising manager. 
The Journal was represented in the Mexican and 
Civil wars by Col. T. H. Bringhurst and in the 



Pastime Sketches 199 

Spanish-American war by W. S. Wright. In the 
changes in the business centers it had many homes. 

The first Journal office was on the east side of 
Fourth street, south of Market. In turn it occu- 
pied quarters on Broadway, north side of the alley 
between Fifth and Sixth street ; on the east side of 
Pearl street, between Market and Broadway ; at 
northwest corner of Fourth and Court streets and 
below Fourth at No. 310 Broadway. The advent of 
the Rural Free Delivery and of the Interurban 
railroads changed the character of the country cir- 
culation, the daily becoming popular in the country 
and the semi-weekly became the weekly once more. 
Since its foundation The Journal was first Whig, 
then Republican in politics. By reason of its vari- 
ous successions The Journal lays claim to the honor 
of being the oldest newspaper in northern Indiana. 

In the matter of name the Pharos, a Greek word 
meaning lighthouse, has the priority as to age. It 
appeared first on the 24th of July, 1844, with Sam- 
uel A. Flail owner and editor. It continued under 
this management until January 6, 1869, when Rufus 
Magee became owner and editor. August 10, 1874, 
The Daily Pharos made its appearance. Mr. Magee 
sold his interest July 1, 1875, to the Pharos com- 
pany and Jerry Collins became the controlling spir- 
it. S. P. Sheerin also became a part owner and an 
editor. In November, 1877, M. Y. Todisman and 
B. F. Louthain purchased the Pharos. On the 20th 
of May, 1885, John W. Barnes purchased the inter- 
est of Mr. Todisman and the Pharos has been con- 
ducted by the firm of Louthain & Barnes since that 
time, almost a quarter of a century. Besides the 
military honors conferred on the newspaper fra- 
ternity of Logansport, already mentioned, D. P. 



200 Pastime Sketches 

Baldwin was attorney general of Indiana, R. A. 
Brown, clerk of the supreme court and C. B. Landis 
and Fred Landis members of congress, all of The 
Journal. W. K. Landis is also postmaster at San 
Juan, Porto Rico. Of the Pharos owners or editors, 
S. P. Sheerin was clerk of the supreme court, Rufus 
Magee was minister to Sweden and Norway and 
B. F. Louthain was postmaster. The Pharos has 
made few changes of location. It was published at 
the southeast corner of Third and Broadway, then 
at the southeast corner of Fourth and North, and 
under the present management at 430 Fourth street. 

The Daily Star was started in 1873 as an adver- 
tising sheet by some Logansport printers. The 
paper was distributed free, the advertising making 
it profitable. Shortly afterwards it became the 
property of J. H. Hall, son of Samuel Hall, the 
founder of the Pharos, and he continued it on the 
same lines until Aug. 11th, of that year when W. 
H. Smith became associated with him and the paper 
was enlarged. On the 20th of September, 1876, the 
daily list and good will was sold to The Journal 
but the publication was resumed and was continued 
until April 9, 1878. The Weekly Star was com- 
menced January 1 1874, and was discontinued 
with the daily. The Star under the management of 
W. H. Smith was quite a metropolitan paper. At 
one time the full Associated Press telegraph ser- 
vice was taken and a large force of compositors was 
employed. The office was on Fourth street in the 
Closson insurance building. 

Referring again to the earlier period of the coun- 
ty's history The Logansport Herald was com- 
menced August 1, 1837. by Jesse C. and David 
Douglass, and this paper was continued until July 



Pastime Sketches 201 

20, 1841. The Wabash Gazette followed the Herald 
on the 10th of November, 1842, with Moses Scott 
publisher and Horace P. Biddle editor in chief. 
The Gazette suspended April 27, 1844. In 1872 
the Democratic Printing and Publishing Co. 
began the publishing of the Sun.. It suspended 
after its forty-ninth number, but revived again No- 
vember 18, 1873. In 1875 the paper was sold and 
removed to Illinois. 

The Logansport Chronicle made its appearance 
April 7, 1875, and has continued as a weekly ever 
since, under the management of the founder, H. J. 
McSheehey. It was first published Sunday morn- 
ing, but later publication day was changed to Sat- 
urday. The Daily Advertiser was started by Wil- 
liams and Longwell in January, 1881. John M. Bur- 
rows bought the interest of Mr. Williams in 1883 
and in January, 1885, the publication was discon- 
tinued. The Sunday Critic was started May 4, 
1884, by Mrs. Sarah Pratt wife of W. D. Pratt, of 
the Journal. This paper was later sold to W. D. 
Owen and W. K. Landis, who discontinued it in a 
year or two. The Bon Ton was started by J. E. 
Sutton, who afterwards founded the Reporter, it 
appearing first as a weekly, in 1885. It was soon 
changed to a monthly ^ and was finally discontinued 
in 1886. 

The Times made its first appearance in March, 
1886, as a weekly, I. N. Bell being the publisher. 
It was started as a Democratic paper and was con- 
tinued as such for a time. Mr. Bell sold the paper 
to James Hitchens and he in turn sold it to a stock 
company composed of leading Prohibitionists. T. 
C. Barnes became the editor at that time. C. O. 
Fenton shortly afterwards became the owner and 



202 Pastime Sketches 

editor, and has continued as such ever since. \V. S. 
Rosier became assistant editor in 1905. The Zei- 
tung was published first on the 7th of October, 
1882, by John Day, the present owner and pub- 
lisher. Prior to that a paper was printed in German 
at Fort Wayne with a Logansport date line. Later 
Julius C. Kloenne published a German paper for a 
time and another was edited by Michael Fornoff. 
These were short lived. The Sternenbanner was 
also published by Peter Walroth. 

The latest daily was established by J. E. Sutton 
in 1888. It was called the Reporter, and it had an 
office in Sixth street, between Broadway and North 
street, east side of the street. Its daily and weekly 
editions became popular and later it moved into its 
own building, 525 Broadway. After the death of 
Mr. Sutton, Mrs. Inez M. Sutton continued the 
publication of it, and it is still under her manage- 
ment. 

Other publications in the city and county were 
the Galveston News and the Royal Center Record. 
The Record was established by Dr. J. J. Burton 
and afterwards became the property of Oliver 
Hand, who still owns it. The Home Music Jour- 
nal was started in 1892, by \V. T. Giffe. It was, as 
its name implies, devoted to music. In 1903 it was 
consolidated with a similar publication at Dayton. 
Ohio, and appeared under a different name, Mr. 
Giffe selling his interest in it. 

The Saturday Night Review was published by 
Bert G. and Will R. Small in 1895. It was a weekly 
literary and society paper of merit but the city was 
not large enough to justify a publication of that 
character and it was discontinued. 

The Logansport publications have at all times 



Pastime Sketches 203 

ranked high in the state and have been influential 
in public affairs. 

ORGANIZED LABOR IN LOGANSPORT — PAPER WRITTEN 

FOR THE CASS COUNTY, INDIANA, HISTORICAL 

SOCIETY BY W. S. WRIGHT. 

It is not possible to give the history of every 
organized movement in Logansport, nor in fact is 
such history needed to complete the few sketches 
here thrown together. Most, if not all, of the or- 
ganizations have their historians, and they have 
carefully prepared the data and in some instances 
have published it. There are some of these sketches 
in print, pamphlet form, at the Public Library and 
others may be obtained at the various organiza- 
tions. Other organizations have complete records 
for historical purposes and the information they 
contain is always at hand. One of the organizations 
having a marked influence on the welfare of the 
city is the Trades and Labor Assembly, devoted to 
the promoting of the best interests of the wage 
earners. 

The Trades and Labor Assembly was organized 
in Logansport sixteen years ago, in 1891. It was 
organized by O. P. Smith, State organizer, with 
Weldon Webster, president and Fred Bismarck, 
secretary, and was composed of the printers, Cigar- 
makers and retail clerks. At the close of 1892 al- 
most every craft in the city was organized and had 
representatives in the assembly, notably the paint- 
ers and designers, carpenters, bricklayers, coopers, 
tailors, barbers, bakers, bartenders, brewers, laun- 
dry workers, stationary firemen, laborers, teamsters 
and plasterers. The hall then was on the third floor 
on Fourth street, where the Turner barber shop 



204 Pastime Sketches 

now is. In 1892 the Assembly started the agitation 
in favor of an Assembly Park which resulted in the 
present Riverside Park and Weldon Webster, its 
president, was nominated for mayor by the Repub- 
licans, being- defeated by less than 30 votes. The 
panic of 1893 stopped business generally and labor 
was not in great demand. This seriously affected 
the organization and many of them disbanded so 
that only the printers, cigarmakers and brewers re- 
mained in the Assembly. In 1904 an attempt was 
made to revive the Assembly with indifferent suc- 
cess and it continued with ups and downs until 1901. 
In that year it was reorganized with most of the 
crafts again represented and it is still active with 
only two of the building crafts not represented. It 
meets every two weeks. E. H. Laing is president, 
with O. P. Smith corresponding secretary and or- 
ganizer and Henry Tripps, financial secretary. Mrs. 
O. P. Smith is vice president, the second woman in 
the State to hold that position in an assembly. 
She represents the Woman's Union Label League 
in the Assembly. The mission of that league is 
to urge the placing of the LTnion Label on all 
manufactured goods or products and to increase 
the sale of Union made goods, education along 
the lines of labor, especially woman and child 
labor, to teach children Union principles, tend to 
the sick and serve as an auxiliary to other labor or- 
ganizations. 

Besides promoting the welfare of the members 
of their organization the Assembly was instrumen- 
tal in creating the park, now known as Riverside 
Park, and in giving Cass county a free gravel road 
system. In 1892 the Assembly took up the gravel 
road question, secured an election and had men at 



Pastime Sketches 205 

the polls working in every precinct for free gravel 
roads, carrying the election and abolishing tolls. 

A request for information on the usbject of Riv- 
edside Park brought the following letter from Mr. 
Weldon Webster who suggested the park and did 
much to establish it : 

Dear Sir : If you desire any statistics concern- 
ing the origin and final realization of Riverside 
Park, (Assembly Park), I can furnish this to you. 
However, briefly you will find in local records all 
you desire, I presume. The plan was projected 
by me before the Trades and Labor Assembly of 
Logansport September, 1890, at which time I dis- 
played a full sketch of the design proposed, which 
was afterwards carefully followed in my contract 
with the city of Logansport. I brought my matters 
before the city council that same fall, being accom- 
panied by a committee from the Trades Assembly. 
Our project was not kindly received, and Mayor 
Cullen proposed shortly after this to sell a tier of 
lots off the alley side of the ground and use the 
money thus realized to beautify and improve the 
remainder of the ground: The council thought 
this wise, but having met with steady and deter- 
mined opposition from those who had the Webster 
plans before them, the administration then in power 
finally abandoned their scheme to sell the ground. 
I and my committee kept up the agitation through 
help of the local press, especially the Logansport 
Journal, and would not allow the sentiment once 
enkindled to weaken the least until the following 
fall, viz., 1891. Finally on Dec. 16th, 1891 the con- 
tract for the building of "Assembly Park" was 
awarded to me. I completed the work and the 
park was dedicated in splendor July, 1893, by a 



206 Pastime Sketches 

Fourth of July celebration, boat racing and fire- 
works and at this time the people turned out and 
came in great numbers to take possession in due 
form. 

1 have a copy of the old subscription book to- 
gether with the photo half-tone made from my 
sketch of the plans at that time. 1 will forward it 
in the near future to the Cass County Historical 
Society. The project first rested upon this sub- 
scription, but the subscription money was never 
used in any part whatsoever. The city built the 
park from her own resources, unaided by private 
funds. This was as it should have been. The plans 
included the buying of Horney Creek basin to the 
edge of the corporate limits and conversion of these 
grounds into a public resort, by placing a dam 
across Horney Creek and conveying the water to 
the point once used by the old Cecil Mills, where I 
proposed to release it over a cascade built in the 
cliff, from whence it would be directed in winding 
ways through the meadow to its original course. I 
am yet of the opinion that this should be done, and 
will speak to the people about this early plan some 
day : for I retain a deep love for my old town. 
Most Sincerely and Respectfully, 

WELDON WEBSTER. 

The records are still preserved of the Potta- 
watomie Club, and other social organizations. The 
Dramatic Club and Country Club have their his- 
torians as do also the school and church societies 
and fraternities. The official reports of the charit- 
able organizations furnish a complete history of 
this noble work and the reports will go down in 



Pastime Sketches 207 

history in the anchives of the Historical Society. 
Among these the St. Joseph Hospital, the Orphans' 
Home and the Home for the Friendless are noted 
for the good work accomplished. One of the pur- 
poses of the Historical Society is to collect and pre- 
serve the detail history of these organizations and 
it will be preserved. 

A BRIEF SKETCH OF GENERAL CASS 

While it is generally known that Cass county 
is named after the Michigan General and Governor 
of that name, many do not know how much he 
had to do with extinguishing the Indian titles to 
land in this State and opening the lands to white 
settlement. 

Of forty-two treaties by which the Indians at 
different times made concessions of land in Indiana, 
General Cass assisted in negotiating nine. These 
were with several different tribes and covered a 
period of about ten years, from 1818 to 1828. One 
of them was negotiated and signed at Maumee 
Rapids, O.. in 1817; four at St. Mary's, O., in 1818; 
one at Chicago, in 1821 ; two near the mouth of the 
Mississinewa in 1826, and one at Mission, on the St. 
Joseph, in the same year. 

The process of extinguishing the Indian titles to 
lands in Indiana occupied nearly fifty years, begin- 
ning with the treaty at Greenville, negotiated by 
General Wayne, in 1795, and ending with that of 
Forks of Wabash, negotiated by Samuel Milroy and 
Allen Hamilton, in 1840. 

The policy of making treaties with the Indians 
as independent tribes for the possession of their 
lands began immediately after the adoption of the 



208 Pastime Sketches 

constitution and continued till 1871. To this extent 
therefore, the Government recognized the Indian 
tribes as foreign nations, making treaties with them 
which were ratified by the Senate, the same as 
treaties with foreign governments. No doubt this 
was better than seizing the lands by force and ap- 
propriating them without any pretense of negotia- 
tion, though the whole proceeding was really one of 
force. 

As the Indians were practically subjugated from 
the beginning and destined to extermination or re- 
moval to reservations, making treaties with them 
was rather a farcical procedure, yet, no doubt, it was 
the best method of extinguishing their title to lands. 
As the tribes, North and South, were numerous, it 
required a great many treaties to complete the pro- 
cess of extinguishing title. 

From the foundation of the Government to 1837 
the Government concluded 349 treaties with fifty- 
four different tribes, and many after that. Of the 
Indians who originally occupied portions of Indiana 
eleven different treaties were negotiated at different 
times with the Kickapoos, eight with the Weas, six- 
teen with the Delawares, ten with the Miamis and 
thirty-eight with the Pottawattomies. 

Most of these treaties included a cession of more 
or less land, so it will be seen the process of extin- 
guishing Indian title was a kind of parting off and 
whittling down process. On the whole, however, 
it was accomplished, as far as Indiana is concerned, 
with very little bloodshed, compared with what 
might have been in a struggle for the possession of 
so vast and valuable a territory had the Indians 
been united and determined. 

The treaties by which they relinquished their 



Pastime Sketches 209 

rights and ceded their lands usually contained pro- 
visions for the payment of a lump sum of money to 
the tribe, for the payment of annuities to the chiefs 
and the promise of various articles, such as rifles, 
hoes, kettles, blankets and tobacco to each Indian 
who should move to the new reservation. Provis- 
ion was also generally made for their transporta- 
tion. The consideration named in some of the 
treaties for their cessions of land, what might be 
called the purchase money, was ridiculously small 
compared with its real value. 

The treaties were generally preceded by smooth 
and specious talks by the white commissioners rep- 
resenting the urgent needs of the whites, the ad- 
vantages to the Indians of a change, etc. General 
Cass' address to the Miami and Pottawatomie 
Indians at Mississinewa is preserved and is a sam- 
ple. This treaty was made October 16, 1826, the 
other two commissioners besides Cass being James 
B. Ray and John Tipton. 

General Cass began by thanking the Great Spirit 
for having granted them good weather and brought 
them all to the council house in safety. He contin- 
ued : ''When the Great Spirit placed you upon this 
island (the Indians called this continent an island) 
he gave you plenty of game for food and clothing 
and bows and arrows with which to kill it. After 
some time it became difficult to kill the game and 
the Great Spirit sent the white men here, who 
supplied you with powder and ball and with blank- 
ets and clothes. We were then a very small people, 
but we have greatly increased and we are now over 
the whole face of the country. You have decreased 
and your numbers are now much reduced. You 
have but little game, and it is difficult for you to 



210 Pastime Sketches 

support your women and children by hunting-. 
Your Great Father, whose eyes survey the whole 
country, sees that you have a large tract of land 
here which is of no service to you ; you do not cul- 
tivate it. and there is but little game upon it. The 
buffalo has long since left it and the deer are going. 
There are no beaver and there will soon be no other 
animals worth hunting upon it. 

"There are a great many of the white children 
of vour Great Father who would be glad to live on 
this land. They would build houses and raise corn 
and cattle and hogs. You know when a family 
grows up and becomes large, they must leave their 
father's house and look for a place for themselves. 
So it is with your white brethern ; their family is in- 
creasing and they must find some new place to 
move to. Your Great Father is willing to give for 
this land much more than it is worth to you. He is 
willing to give more than all the game upon it 
would sell for. You know well that all he promises 
he will perform." 

The speaker then pointed out how much happier 
the Indian would be far away from the whites, 
where there would be no danger of collisions, and 
especially where it would not be so easy for their 
young men to obtain whiskey. He continued. 

"Your Great Father owns a large country west 
of the Mississippi river. He is anxious that all his 
red children should remove there and settle down 
in peace together; then they can hunt and provide 
well for their women and children and once more 
become a happy people. We are authorized to 
offer you a residence there, equal in extent to your 
lands here, and to pay you an annuity which will 
make you comfortable, and to provide the means of 



Pastime Sketches 211 

your removal. You will then have a country 
abounding with game, and you will also have the 
value of the country you leave, and you will be be- 
yond the reach of whisky, for it can not reach you 
there. Your Great Father will not suffer his white 
children to reside there, for it is reserved, for the red 
people; it will be yours as long as the sun shines 
and the rain falls. You must go before long; you 
can not remain here, you must remove or perish. 

"Now is the time to make a good bargain for 
yourselves which will make you rich and comfort- 
able. Come forward, then, like wise men and ac- 
cept the terms we offer." 

The Indians must have been rather disgusted by 
the pretended anxiety of their Great Father at 
Washington for their welfare. However, they 
signed the treaty. Under it they were removed 
first to a reservation in Kansas which General Cass 
had assured them "will be yours as long as the sun 
shines and the rain falls." But their Great Father 
changed his mind, and later they were removed to 
the Indian Territory. 

Between 1817 and 1831 General Cass had assist- 
ed in concluding treaties with different tribes of In- 
dians by which cessions of land were acquired in 
Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin, 
to an amount equal to nearly one-fourth of the en- 
tire area of those states. There is a Cass county in 
Michigan, Illinois, Minnesoto, Nebraska and North 
Dakota. His public services as superintendent of 
Indian affairs, secretary of war and other important 
offices made him very popular, and in 1844 he came 
very near being nominated for president by the 
Democratic national convention. 

On the first day of the convention he ran up 



212 Pastime Sketches 

from 83 on the first ballot to 114 on the eigth, and if 
another ballot had been taken on that day he would 
have been nominated. The next morning James 
K. Polk was sprung as a "dark horse" candidate and 
nominated on the first ballot. In 1848 he was nom- 
inated, but was defeated by General Taylor. The 
Democracy of Indiana were for him from the begin- 
ning and in 1848 he received the electoral vote of 
the state. 



Pastime Sketches 213 



ADDENDA 



AUTHORS, ARTISTS, ACTORS AND FINANCIERS WHO 

HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE FAME OF 

THE "MOUTH OF EEL." 

A brief paper on the authors, artists and actors 
of a community who attain more than local fame in 
literature, art, music and drama must of necessity 
be merely suggestive. It can be neither analytical, 
not critical. It is only possible to give data, and 
leave the study of the subject to the student who 
desires a more extended knowledge. In every com- 
munity is the minister who writes volumes in his 
tireless life, the editor who has perhaps written sev- 
eral thousand columns of editorial, the lawyer with 
his voluminous briefs and the judge, whose written 
opinions add to the fund of legal lore. Logansport 
has contributed to the higher courts of the State 
Judge Horace P. Biddle, Judge W. Z. Stuart and 
Judge G. E. Ross and to the United States Court 
Judge Kenesaw M. Landis. Judge D. P. Baldwin 
was Attorney General of the State. Their opinions 
are to be found in the published reports. The State 
and National reports contain the speeches of Sen- 
ators and Congressmen, State Senators and Rep- 
resentatives. Logansport citizens have appeared 
upon the lecture platform also, and some of them 



214 Pastime Sketches 

have done themselves credit in contributions to 
newspapers and magazines. All this is part of local 
history in a way and as such is worthy of study 
from a local standpoint. But it is not the purpose 
of this sketch to classify, nor to compile a complete 
roll of honor, but rather to offer a few suggestions 
for information and reference. The literature of a 
community is always interesting regardless of the 
measure of fame accorded by the world at large. 
And the humble efforts of the first poet of the Wa- 
bash, who could neither read nor write, will de- 
serve mention here. 

Of the landscape painters George Winter was 
the pioneer. A sketch of his work appears in an- 
other chapter. Margaret MacDonald succeeded 
him. Mary MacDonald, her sister, attained equal 
fame in caricature. Both were born at Camden, 
Indiana, a dozen miles away, but made Logansport 
their home. Margaret MacDonald studied art in 
New York City and opened a studio in Logansport. 
Many of her best oil paintings are of Indiana scen- 
ery. After her marriage to Mr. Pullman of Chicago 
she made that city her home. She was president of 
the Palette Club of Chicago and was one of the lead- 
ing artists of Chicago. In 1889 she published "Days 
Serene," copies of her best paintings, and in 1891, 
"Smnmerland," another art book of copies. She died 
in 1892 at John Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, 
where she had gone for medical treatment. Mary 
MacDonald excelled in her chosen work. Her etch- 
ings appeared in Harper's Monthly, and other mag- 
azines, but she survived her sister only five years. 
dying in the same hospital. 

Max Keppler, a Logansport boy, attained Na- 
tional fame as a caricaturist in Puck, Harper's, and 



Pastime Sketches 215 

other magazines. Among others whose fame is 
more than local are Mrs. DeKops-Downey, Wils 
Berry and Miss Kate White. A sketch from mem- 
ory has its defects and there may be others. 

In the world of Science there are men equally 
famous. Judge H. P. Biddle's treatise on the 
science of music was translated into German and 
used as a text-book in German Universities. Dr. 
Robert Hessler's treatises have had a similar ex- 
perience in Japan. Dr. John M. Coulter, who colla- 
borated with Prof. Stanley M. Coulter, now of Pur- 
due University, both of Logansport, afterwards en- 
gaged in similar work with President Jordan of 
Leland Stanford University of California, and is the 
recognized botanical authority of the world. Dr. 
Barton W. Everman as a boy hauled grain to Lo- 
gansport from the farm south of Logansport, near 
Burlington. He is at the head of the fish culture 
department of the National government at Wash- 
ington which is stocking the ponds and streams of 
the country with suitable spawn and supplying the 
nation with a considerable part of its food supply. 
Prof. L. L. Forman is the head professor in lan- 
guages at Cornell University, Ithica, N. Y. After 
attaining fame in music he devoted his life to the 
languages with equal success. Rev. L. A. Alford 
was a man little known on account of his simple 
life. He had conferred upon him many degrees, 
D. D.. L. L. D., and others. He was a Baptist min- 
ister, a publisher and an author of note. He learned 
the printer's trade at Adrian, Mich., published the 
Sunday Visitor at Hillsdale, Mich., and later the 
Elkhart Herald, at Elkhart, Jnd. While at Elkhart 
he built a Baptist church building at an expense of 
five thousand dollars and donated it to the church 



216 Pastime Sketches 

organization. He was elected president of the 
Eclectical Medical College of St. Louis and was 
vice-president of the Medical Association of the 
United States and also of the State Medical Asso- 
ciation. He was the organizer of the Anthropo- 
logical University of St. Louis and received many 
honorary titles also a gold medal and the title of 
Ph. D. from the Society of Science, Letters and 
Arts of London, England, of which he was a mem- 
ber. He wrote his greatest works in Logansport. 
"The Masonic Gem," ''Great Atonement Illus- 
trated," "Mystic Numbers of the Word," "Biblical 
Chart of Man," "The War in Heaven," and "Trip 
to the Skies." 

John B. Dillon, as a State historian, is an author- 
ity, as is also W. W. Thornton, as a writer of law 
text-books. Thomas B. Helm and P. A. Berry in 
local history displayed ability worthy of a larger 
field. Miss Abbie Fitch, and Mrs. Laura Fitch 
McQuiston wrote entertainingly in the magazines 
on life in China. 

In literature, besides these, there are many 
works of merit. Judge Horace P. Biddle published 
two or three volumes of poems. Some of his pub- 
lications are "American Boyhood," "A Few Poems." 
"Glances at the World." There is a volume of 
poems by A. Jones and another by Albert Allen. 
Mrs. S. E. Henderson wrote "Jelard," a novel, and 
Weldon Webster wrote "The Mystery of Louise 
Pollard." "Outlaws, a Story of the Building of the 
Wabash and Erie Canal" was written by Leroy 
Armstrong and published by D. Appleton & Co., in 
1891. "Words of Comfort" was by Wesley E. 
Walls. J. E. Sutton wrote a book of travels, and 
T. H. McKee, "The National Platforms of All Po- 



Pastime Sketches 217 

litical Parties," and other reference works. W. D. 
Owen wrote "A Century of Progress" and E. S. 
Huntington, under the name of Edwin Stanton, 
wrote "The Dreams of the Dead." Capt. Hunting- 
ton was a regular army officer, son-in-law of Sena- 
tor D. D. Pratt and, in later life, a resident of Bos- 
ton. "The Riverton Minister," is a novel by Rev. 
Martin Post, son of Dr. M. M. Post, one of the pio- 
neer ministers at Logansport. The scene is laid at 
Logansport which is "Riverton." Charles T. Denby 
of Evansville, who married the daughter of U. S. 
Senator Graham N. Fitch and who spent much of 
his time in Logansport was Minister to China and 
wrote a volume on China. Perry S. Heath, a com- 
positor in the Pharos office, was First Assistant 
Postmaster-General and wrote a number of sketches 
as a newspaper man. In the world of music there 
are several pieces of sheet music and a text book 
on Harmony by W. T. Giffe who also published a 
journal of music. Thomas D. Goodwin has at- 
tained fame as the composer of words for music 
and there are a half dozen or more of his songs. R. 
J. Powell was a composer of popular band music. 
David E. Bryer published a pamphlet of campaign 
songs in the Blaine and Logan campaign of 1884 
which attracted more than state notice. It is a 
notable fact that two of the great historians of the 
State, John B. Dillon and W. H. Smith, were Lo- 
gansport citizens. Paul Dresser's song, "On the 
Banks of the Wabash" has local significance, 
though he lived at Terre Haute. Nor should be 
overlooked the magazine poems of Mrs. Sarah S. 
Pratt, George W. Stout and William M. Elliott and 
the magazine articles of Ella Higgins and Eva 
Peters Reynolds. In the histrionic field Walker 



218 Pastime Sketches 

Whiteside, as an interpreter of Shakespeare, and 
Edna Goodrich, stand first. 

Enion Kendall will prove entertaining to the 
readers of his poems. Without education, a wood 
sawyer by occupation, he showed a remarkable 
mind, considering his advantages. And though he 
was compelled to rely upon his friends, to whom he 
dictated his poetry, and who made him send his 
"Eliza Allen" to Mexico "in three parts" his poems 
display a remarkable imagination. He was vol- 
uminous and succeeded in making his poetry profit- 
able, which can not be said of all poets. His muse 
sung in ante-bellum days, and since Judge Biddle 
has included hisprinted poems in his bound copies 
of miscellany it is evident that he has found a place 
in history. His philosophy while not profound was 
practical. And in his effort to maintain himself by 
literary effort without being able to read or write 
he showed a lofty ambition. In truth this curiosity 
of literature deserves a place in local history. 

There are two books in the library of local in- 
terest, besides the histories of the State, which of 
course cover local history, the State Gazetter pub- 
lished by J. II. Colton under the title of "Indiana 
Delineated, Geographical, Historical, Statistical and 
Commercial ;" also a history of the Indian fort, 
Fort Wayne, which gives the best description of 
the habits and customs of the Indians of the Wa- 
bash valley. There is also a set of bound mis- 
cellany, one hundred and two volumes, part of the 
Biddle library, and also pamphlets of church his- 
tory, as follows: "History of the First Presbyterian 
Church," '•History of the Market Street M. E. 
Church," and "History of the Broadway M. E. 
Church." Mr. E. S. Rice is compiling a history of 



Pastime Sketches 219 

the Baptist Church. In the Biddle miscellany the 
following numbers are of local interest. Speeches 
of Graham N. Fitch, volumes 8 and 29; "Retrospect 
after Thirty Years," volume 68, "Thanksgiving ser- 
mon," volume 22, Rev. M. M. Post ; "A Lawyer's 
Readings in the Evidences of Christianity" and "In- 
diana, Her Growth," volumes 53 and 57, D. P. Bald- 
win ; "Complete Description of Logansport," C. Col- 
lins, volume 73; "Logansport, Ind.," volume 97; 
"Centennial speeches of Williamson Wright and 
Horace P. Biddle, 1876," volume 75. Another book- 
let printed by Longwell & Cummings in 1892 is 
entitled "Fifty Years," edited and published by 
James T. Bryer. It contains a list of the "Golden 
Jubilee Residents," citizens who had lived in the 
county fifty years, a tribute to the pioneers, a his- 
tory of the city and county, and a sketch of the 
pioneers by Horace P. Biddle. 

In these hints should be included "A Century of 
Gossip," by Willard G. Nash, and two books by Dr. 
Charles H. McCully, "The Chemistry of Embalm- 
ing," 1899, and "Sanitation and Disinfection," 1906. 
Dr. N. W. Cady has written some fiction. Dr. J. Z. 
Powell falls into rhyme at times. 

The articles on early clays in the files of the 
newspapers are interesting, contributed by Senator 
D. D. Pratt, Judge Horace P. Biddle, Charles B. 
Laselle, S. L. McFadin and others. There are gov- 
ernment reports of local interest at least because 
made by local men, by D. D. Pratt, Commissioner 
of Internal Revenue, W. D. Owen, Commissioner of 
Immigration, David M. Dunn, Consul to Prince Ed- 
wards Island and H. Z. Leonard and W. H. Jacks, 
Consuls to London, Ontario. 

Miss Mabel Justice under the nom-de-plume of 



220 Pastime Sketches 

Paul Savage, "The Confessions of a Worldly Wo- 
man" and other novels, and has contributed to many 
magazines and Sunday newspapers. Clarence Ben- 
nett, under the name of Richard Bennett, is one of 
Frohman's leading men on the stage. Col. T. H. 
Bringhurst and Capt. Frank Swigart wrote a history 
of the Forty-sixth Indiana Regiment, pronounced 
by the War Department at Washington the best of 
the regimental histories. 

Of the financiers Logansport has produced many 
who use seven figures to describe their wealth. 
There are a half dozen or more millionaires who at 
one time called Logansport their home. And so it 
would seem that in war, art, music, literature, 
statesmanship and finance the "mouth of Eel" is 
equally celebrated. 



